JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology 

Is subterranean termite O. horni  replaced soil on the tree trunk similar in textural composition to the surrounding soil?

Author: N.G. KUMAR

Abstract:

 Odontotermes horni Wasmann belongs to the family Termitidae, Order Isoptera. Termites are distributed widely, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. In India, O. horni is widely distributed and considered a significant pest of agricultural and horticultural crops, forest plantations, and woodwork. The present experiment was carried out to know whether the workers select the soil particles from a particular depth of the soil for the construction of earthen sheeting on the eucalyptus tree trunk. Significantly lower coarse sand (22.88 to 29.35 percent), fine sand (20.47 to 24.43 percent), and higher clay (44.33 to 52.13 percent) with little variation in silt (3.5 to 3.78 percent) in the earthen sheeting’s from 15 to 300 cm height of the eucalyptus tree trunk was observed compared to the surrounding soil at 15 to 150cm depth.

References:

Abe, S. S., Kotegawa, T., Onishi, T., Watanabe, Y., and Wakatsuki, T., 2012. Soil particle accumulation in termite (Macrotermes bellicosus) mounds and the implications for soil particle dynamics. Ecol. Res., 27:219-227.

Abe, S. S. and Wakatsuki, T., 2010. Possible influence of termites (Macrotermes bellicosus) on forms and composition of free sesquioxides in tropical soils. Pedobilogy, 53:301-306. 

Abe, S. S., Watanabe, Y., Onishi, T., Kotegawa, T. and Wakatsuki, T., 2011. Nutrient storage in termite (Acrotermes bellicosus) mounds and the implications for nutrient dynamics in a tropical savannah Utisol. Soil. Sci. Plant Nutr., 57:786-795.

Banerjee, S.P. and Mohan, S.C., 1976. Some characteristics of termitaria soils in relation to their surroundings in new forest estate, Dehradun. Indian Forester, 102:257-263.

Basappa, H.1984. Studies on the dung feeding termites and their role in the removal of dung under dry land conditions.M.Sc. (Agri) thesis, Uni.Agril.Sciences, Bangalore, p120.

Basudev, B., Sunanda Sahoo, Swasti Sucharita Mishra and Arabinda Kusum, 2022. Physicochemical properties and biochemical activities of termitaria soil of Odontotermes spp. and surrounding soil in Sambalpur district, Odisha, India. J.Ent.Zool.Studies, 10(2):124-128.

Beyene, T. and EmanaGetu, 2021. Physicochemical properties of termite mound soil and its effect on yield and yield components of maize (Zea mays L.) under greenhouse conditions at Nekemte, Western Ethiopia.Ethiop.J.Sci., 44(1):38- 46.

Bonachela, J. A., Pringle, R. M., Sheffer, T. C., Coverdale, J. A., Guyton,K.K.,Caylor,S.A., Levin, C. E. and Tarnita, C. E., 2015. Termite mounds can increase in robustness of dry land ecosystems to climate change. Science, 347: 651-65.

Boyer, P., 1968.Comparative pedological study of the habitat and environment of Anacanthotermes ochraceus (Burmeister).Insectes Soc., 15:395-405.

Chhotani, O. B., 1980. Termite pests of agriculture in the Indian region and their control. Zool. Survy. India, Manograph No. 4, 94p. Termites in the humid tropics, New Delhi, 1960.UNESCO, Paris, pp.131-135.

Holt, A. J. and Lepage, M., 2000.Termites and soil properties, In Termites: Evolution, Sociality, Symbioses, Ecology, Abe, T. and Higashi, D. E., Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands, pp. 389-407.

Joachim, A.W.R. and Kandaiah, S., 1940. A comparison of soils from termite mound and adjacent land.Trop.Agric.Mag.Ceylon Agric.Soc. 95:333-338.

Jouquet, P., Doubler, J., Lagerlof, J., Lavelle, P. and Lepage, M., 2006. Soil invertebrates as ecosystem engineers: Intended and accidental effects on soil and feedback loops, Appl. Soil Ecol., 32:153-164.

Jouquet, P, Guilleux, N, Chintakunta, S, Mendez M, Subramanian, S, and Shanbhag, R. R., 2015. The influence of termites on soil sheeting properties varies depending on the materials on which they feed. Eur. J. Soil Biol. 69:74-78.

Jouquet, P. Janeau, J. L., Pisano, A., Tran Sy, H., Orange, D., Minh Nguyet, L. T. and Valentin, C., 2012. Soil engineers influence water runoff, soil detachment and the transfer of nutrients in a tropical steep slope fallow. Appl. Soil Ecol., 61:161-168.

Jouquet, P., Mery, T., Rouland, C. and Lepage, M., 2003. Modulated effect of the termite Ancistrotermes cavithorax (Isoptera, Macrotermitinae) on soil properties according to the internal mound structures. Sociobiol., 42: 403-412.

Jouquet, P., Traore, S., Choosai, C., Hartmann, C. and Bignell, D., 2011. Influence of termites on ecosystem functioning. Ecosystem services provided by termites. Eur. J. Soil. Biol., 47:215-222.

Kalidas, P., 1986. Studies on termites (Odontotermes spp.) with special reference to their role in the fertility of soil. Ph.D. thesis, Uni.Agril.Sciences, Bangalore, 123p.

Kemp, P.B., 1955.The termites of north eastern Tanganyika, their distribution and biology. Bull.Ent.Res. 46:113-135.

Kumar, N.G., Prakash, K.V., Nirmala, P. and Avinash, T.G., 2018. Impact of earthen sheetings of Odontotermes horni (Wasmann) and surrounding soil on the growth of finger millet crop.J.Soil Biol.Ecol., 38:213-222.

Kumar, N.G., Prakash, K.V. and Avinash, T.G., 2020. Comparative physical properties of four species of Odontotermes in red sandy loam soil. J. Soil Biol.Ecol., 40(2):17-25. 

Kumar, N.G., 2021. Quantitative estimation of transported and deposited soil modified by Odontotermes horni in the agro-forest ecosystem. J. Soil Biol.Ecol., 41(2):6-16. 

Lee, K.E. and Wood, T.G., 1971a. Physical and chemical effects on soils of some Australian termites and their pedological significance. Pedobiologia, 11:376-409.

Maldague, M.E., 1964.Importance des populations de termites’ les sols equatoriaux.Trans.8th Int.congr.SoilsSci. Bucharest, 3:743-751.

Pathak, A.N. and Lehri, L.K., 1959. Studies on termite nests. I. Chemical, physical and biological characteristics of a termitarium in relation to its surroundings. J.Indian Soc.Soil Sci., 7:87-90.

Piper, C.S., 1946. Soil and Plant analysis. Interscience Publisher Inc., NewYork, p.192.

Rajagopal, D., Satyanarayana, T. and Veeresh, G.K., 1982.Physical and chemical properties of termite mound and surrounding soils of Karnataka.J. Soil Biol.Ecol., 2:18-31.

Ranjith, M. and C.M.Kalleshwaraswamy, 2021.Termites (Blottodea: Isoptera) of South India: Current knowledge on distribution and systematic checklist. J.Threatened Taxa, 13:18598-18613.

Roonwal, M. L., 1979. Termite life and termite control in tropical South Asia, Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur, 177p.

Samra, J.S., Tandon, P.L., Thakur, R.S. and Chadha, K.L., 1979.Comparison of the soils of termite galleries and the surrounding soil in mango orchards. Indian J.Agric.Sci., 49:892-895.

Seymour, C. L., Milewski, A. V., Mills, A. J., Joseph, G. S., Cumming, G. S., Cumming, D. H. M. and Mahlangu, Z., 2014. Do the large termite mounds of Macrotermes concentrate micronutrients in addition to macronutrients in nutrient-poor African savannas? Soil Biol. Biochem., 68:95-105.

Sileshi, G.W., Arshad, M.A., Konate, S. and Nkunika, P.O.Y., 2010.Termite-induced heterogeneity in African savanna vegetation: mechanisms and patterns.J.Veg.Sci., 21:923-937.