Premium
Phosphorus accumulation in savanna termite mound in Venezuela
Author(s) -
LÓPEZHERNÁNDEZ D.,
FARDEAU J. C.,
NIÑO M.,
NANNIPIERI P.,
CHACON P.
Publication year - 1989
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.1365-2389.1989.tb01304.x
Subject(s) - soil water , phosphorus , litter , nutrient , nutrient cycle , plant litter , organic matter , total organic carbon , environmental chemistry , decomposition , chemistry , ecology , biology , organic chemistry
SUMMARY Nasutitermes ephratae are often abundant in seasonally flooded and dry Venezuelan savannas, where they play an important role in litter decomposition and nutrient cycling. Measurements were made of phosphorus forms and associated properties in 14 mounds and adjacent soils. Mounds contained on average over twice as much total phosphorus as adjacent soils. The difference was differentially distributed, mainly as inorganic forms. Mounds also display a relatively high organic matter content. ‘Available’ forms of P, especially water‐soluble P, increased several times as a result of termite activity. Concomitantly, P‐sorption was greatly reduced in mounds compared to surrounding soils. Mounds did not display higher phosphatase activity. The elevated organic carbon content, high level of soluble P, together with very high C/P 0 ratios found in mounds, probably inhibited phosphatase activity.