Effect of termite activity on soil chemical properties using baiting systems at an arboretum area in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract. Indrayani Y, Anwari S. 2021. Effect of termite activity on soil chemical properties using baiting systems at an arboretum area in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 2125-2130. Termites play an essential and positive role as decomposers in nature, apart from being known as wood-destroying insects. These two varying characteristics led to the development of termite control technology, capable of digesting cellulose components and making soils rich in organic compounds. Therefore, this study examines the soil's biogenic structure due to termite activity using a control technology with a baiting system. The bait was made with various compositions of eucalyptus leaves, paper and cardboard, 60%: 40%: 0%, 60%: 20%: 20%, 60%: 0%: 40%, 0%: 100%: 0% and 0%: 0%: 100% with a size of 2cm x 2cm x 1cm and eucalyptus leaves as an attractant. In addition, a PVC tube measuring 10 cm diameter and 20 cm height with 25 holes consisting of 3 mm diameter on the side was used for field application. A total of 100 grams of bait for each composition was entered into the feed tube and placed in the Arboretum of Tanjungpura University, West Kalimantan, with three replications and left for 21 days. At the end of the observation period, the soil’s biogenic structures with termites were analyzed to determine their chemical properties. Furthermore, the same analysis was also carried out on the soil surrounding the test area without termite activity for comparison. The results showed that the pH, C/N ratio, C-Organic, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium contents as well as Cation Exchange Capacity of the soil produced from the tube containing the bait with a composition of 60%: 0%: 40% was significantly higher. This means that the soil's biogenic structure produced by termite activity with a baiting system increases land productivity and chemical properties.

The diversity and distribution of residential termites in the Minahasa Raya Region, North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia

“…The exact locations of these colonies were documented using GPS. Termites were then cleaned, collected, and stored in 70% ethanol (CH3OH) vials for later morphological identification (Indrayani et al 2021;Prastyaningsih et al 2020). Baiting method: baits were placed within termite observation stations.…”

“…Termites (Order: Isoptera) occupy diverse ecosystems, from natural habitats and agricultural landscapes to urban settings (Clement et al 2021;Rahman et al 2022). In tropical and subtropical ecosystems, they are abundant soil macro-fauna, crucial for improving soil structure and fertility (Indrayani et al 2021), and are indispensable in decomposition processes, particularly of wood, although they also feed on grasses, plant litter and organic matter (Bignell 2005;Jouquet et al 2006;Prastyaningsih et al 2020;Pie et al 2021). Their contributions are vital for maintaining many tropical ecosystems' functions (Bonachela et al 2015;Ashton et al 2019;Elizalde et al 2020).…”