Physico-Chemical Properties of Termitaria and their Surrounding Soils in Some Nigerian Ecozones

Abstract

Termites provide ecosystem services and have been used as a biological index of soil quality and fertility because of their key role in soil nutrient cycling that enables trees associated with their activities to remain evergreen throughout the year. To gain further insight into this situation, we compared the soil physico-chemical properties of termitaria and their surrounding soils in three Nigerian ecological zones including savannah, derived savannah and rainforest. Parameters evaluated were the pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic carbon (OC), available phosphorus (Av.P) and total nitrogen (TN); base saturation (BS) and soil texture were also determined alongside the elemental (K, Na, Ca, Mn, H, Al) composition. The pH, OC, Av.P and TN in the termitaria were significantly higher than those in the surrounding soils. There were significant differences in the composition of the elements among sites in the termitaria and surrounding soils. The predominant analyte in the termitaria was Al, being in significantly higher concentration than in the surrounding soil. Na and Ca were also much higher in the termitaria than the surrounding soils in the guinea savannah zone. Soil pH had strong positive correlation with OC and CEC in the termitaria soil, but negative correlation with the surrounding soils outside the termitaria. On the other hand, both the termitaria and surrounding soils, base saturation, cation and soil texture were highly correlated between the ecozones. The findings from this study might promote nature conservation and enrichment of biodiversity in the different ecological zones, and could also support the local and poor farmers’ decisions in growing specific crops closer to the termitaria, especially the crops that require higher uptake of OC, N, Na and Ca for their growth and yields.