An Investigation into the Effectiveness of Termite Mound Soil as a Natural Soil Amendment and Its Role in Promoting Sustainable Plant Growth
Aiki, I. P. *
Department of Biological Science, Federal University Gashua, P.O. Box 1005, Gashua, Yobe State, Nigeria.
Haruna, M. K.
Department of Biological Science, Federal University Gashua, P.O. Box 1005, Gashua, Yobe State, Nigeria.
Danladi, E
Department of Chemistry, Federal University Gashua, P.O. Box 1005, Gashua, Yobe State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Termites are ecologically vital insects, looking at the role they play within the ecosystem, ranging from environmental modifications to the provision of food and playing a vital role in the food chain. They are important conditioners of soil, whereby they enhance the nutritional composition of the soil by their activities within and around the mounds. Termites’ mounds serve as an alternative source of environmentally friendly soil amendment for plant growth. The study looked into the potential of using termite mound' soil as a soil amendment. We assessed the soil properties of termite mounds in comparison with the surrounding soils. We looked at the composition of some macro and micro nutrients present in the termite mound soil found in Gashua and its surroundings. Soils were collected from different termites’ mounds and different locations for analysis. The analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in the macro and micronutrient composition between soils collected from termite mounds and those obtained from the surrounding environment.
Keywords: Biodiversity, chemical fertilizers, decomposable, environmentally friendly, soil amendment, termites’ mounds