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THE USE OF MOUNDS OF THE TERMITE MACROTERMES FALCIGER (GERSTÄCKER) AS A SOIL AMENDMENT
Author(s) -
WATSON J. P.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.244
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2389
pISSN - 0022-4588
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2389.1977.tb02273.x
Subject(s) - amendment , nutrient , agronomy , perennial plant , soil water , environmental science , ecology , biology , law , political science
Summary Twelve termite mounds and adjacent Ah and Ap horizons were sampled at three sites near Salisbury, Rhodesia. The mass of termite mounds occupied by M. falciger at one site was estimated at 620 t/ha, and contained the following amounts of nutrients expressed as percentages of the amounts in mounds and Ap horizon combined: extractable Ca 95%, mineral N 81% extractable K 69%, and available P 69%. Pot experiments using perennial ryegrass gave higher dry matter yields from termite mounds than from the Ap and Ah horizons. Crop production could therefore be increased by mixing termite mounds with the soil.