Termite Soil as Bio-Indicator of Soil Fertility

Nithyatharani, R.; Kavitha, U. S.

doi:10.22214/ijraset.2018.1099

Cited by 15 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Structures in several tropical ecosystems that are primarily built by termites are known as termite mound (Jouquet et al 2015). Termite mound soil is rich in mineral nutrients and organic matter which make it a suitable habitat for microorganisms (Nithyatharani and Kavitha 2018). Due to this nutrient richness of termite mound soil, small-scale farmers often improve the soil condition of their farmland by using termite mound soil, which they believe can increase crop yield (Deke et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of termitarium soil as a viable source for biofertilizer and biocontrol

et al. 2021

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Background Environmental deterioration arising from the misuse of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in agriculture has resulted in the pursuit of eco-friendly means of growing crop. Evidence has shown that biofertilizers and biocontrol can boost soil fertility and suppress soil pathogens without compromising the safety of the environment. Hence, the study investigated the use of termitarium soil as a viable source for biofertilizer and biocontrol. Results Twenty-seven soil samples were collected from nine different mound soil (household, farm and water bodies in a sterile sample bag). Aliquots of serially diluted samples were plated on nutrient agar, plate count agar, eosin methylene blue agar and MacConkey agar plates. Isolates were identified using standard microbiological techniques. Identified isolates were screened for plant growth-promoting properties using phosphate solubilization test, potassium solubilization test and indole acetic acid production test. Activities of the plant growth-promoting bacteria were carried out using antagonism by diffusible substance method and antagonistic activity of cell-free culture filtrate of bacterial isolates against Ralstonia solanacearum and Fusarium oxysporum. Two hundred bacterial isolates were recovered from the 27 soil samples. The most predominant isolate was Bacillus spp. Out of the 200 bacterial isolates, 57 were positive for phosphate solubilization test, potassium solubilization test and indole acetic acid production test. Out of the 57 isolates, six bacterial isolates had antagonistic activities against Fusarium oxysporum, while seven bacterial isolates antagonized Ralstonia solanacearum. Conclusion The result showed that termite mound soil contains some useful bacteria that are capable of solubilizing phosphate and potassium and producing indole acetic acid which are the plant growth-promoting potentials and as well suppressing plant soil pathogen.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of termitarium soil as a viable source for biofertilizer and biocontrol

et al. 2021

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“…Efforts are currently being made to characterize and identify microbial functional genes across environmental slopes to know their contributions to ecological services (Howe et al 2016;Glick 2012). Previously, Nithyatharani and Kavitha (2018) reported the presence of some PGPB and their nifH genes in termite mound soils. These nitrogenase encoding genes play a vital role in reducing atmospheric nitrogen molecules to ammonium through nitrogen fixation (Cobo-Díaz et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unveiling Plant-Beneficial Function as Seen in Bacteria Genes from Termite Mound Soil

Enagbonma

Babalola

2020

J Soil Sci Plant Nutr

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The use of termite mound soils in enhancing soil fertility and plant growth, especially in areas with poor soil conditions, has been recommended by many research studies. Most of these recommendations are, however, based on the high nutrient levels in termite mound soils. Thus, this study aimed to verify if plant growth-promoting bacteria in termite soils also play a role in improving plant growth. To achieve our purpose, we made an effort in characterizing the bacterial genes contributing to plantbeneficial function in termite mound soils with the shotgun metagenomics method. Results from this study revealed the presence of bacterial genes involved in the production of siderophores, acetoin, trehalose, phenazine, butanediol, 4-hydroxybenzoate, chitinase, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, quorum sensing molecules, and mineral phosphate solubilization. In addition, we identified bacterial genes involved in the manufacturing of catalases, peroxidases, and superoxide dismutases that confer resistance to oxidative stresses in plants. Bacterial genes responsible for glycine-betaine production and cold and heat shock tolerance which helps in withstanding abiotic stress, were also present. With these plant growth-promoting traits observed in bacteria from termite mound soils, we recommend the isolation and the use of termite mound soil bacteria both in greenhouse and field trials to further ascertain their potential in improving soil fertility and crop production.

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“…Despite being considered as pests, termites are biological indicators of soil fertility and ecosystem engineers [7][8][9][10][11]. Termite's activities such as collection and transportation of living and dead plants, animal materials, soil particles, and burrowing lead to the improvement of soil physicochemical properties and microbial population and diversity of the termite mound and their surrounding soils [12][13][14][15][16][17]. In central Uganda, most large termites mounds are built by Macrotermes subhyalinus and Macrotermes bellicosus and termite mounds found on farmlands are estimated to be on average 10-15 mounds per acre of land of a density between 0.1 and 3.4 per acre [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential of termite mounds and its surrounding soils as soil amendments in smallholder farms in central Uganda

et al. 2020

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Objectives: The low fertility of highly weathered soils has been a major problem for resource-constrained smallholder farmers. In central Uganda, smallholder farmers have been collecting termite mound soils anywhere around the termite mound to improve their soil fertility. However, no studies have been conducted on which sections of the termite mounds consist of high soil nutrients. This study was conducted to assess selected major soil essential plant nutrients of soils collected from the top of the mound (TPMS), and the basal part of the mound (BPMS). The surrounding soil samples were collected from five, fifteen, and thirty meters away from the mound (TMSS1, TMSS2, and TMSS3 respectively), covering ten termite mounds in five different maize fields in central Uganda. Results: TPMS and BPMS had significant (P-value < 0.05) higher N, P, K, OC, Ca and Mg levels than TMSS1, TMSS2, and TMSS3. However, OC levels in BPMS was higher than TPMS. On the whole, termite mounds are beneficial as a source for essential plant nutrients. It will be best if smallholder farmers could collect the termite mound soils from the top and the basal part of the mound to improve the fertility of their soil.

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Termite Soil as Bio-Indicator of Soil Fertility

Cited by 15 publications

References 8 publications

Use of termitarium soil as a viable source for biofertilizer and biocontrol

Use of termitarium soil as a viable source for biofertilizer and biocontrol

Unveiling Plant-Beneficial Function as Seen in Bacteria Genes from Termite Mound Soil

Potential of termite mounds and its surrounding soils as soil amendments in smallholder farms in central Uganda

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