Comparative Analysis of Termite Mound Soils and their Adjacent Soils under Horticulture, Bamboo and Forest Land Uses in Acid Soils of Assam, India

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the soil physico chemical and microbiological properties between the termite mounds and their adjacent soils using standard procedures. A one way ANOVA was performed to compare the soil properties between the termite mound and their adjacent soils. It was observed that the termite mound soil had properties different than their adjacent soils. The clay content varied from 31.02% to 33.68% in the termite mounds which was significantly higher than the adjacent soils where it ranged from 24.92% to 26.28%. The Nitrogen, P2O5 and K2O content ranged from 143 kgha-1 to 182.58 kgha-1,41.22 kgha-1 to 65.46 kgha-1 and from 116.26 kgha-1 to 132.76 kgha-1 respectively in the termite mounds while they ranged from 112.89% to 135.75%, 37.25% to 58.69% and from 78.90% to 82.50% in the adjacent soils. The activity of dehydrogenase was 86.38 µg TPF/g soil/24hr in the termite mounds under horticulture land use which was the highest while the highest dehydrogenase activity in the adjacent soils was 85.17 µg TPF/g soil/24hr. The Soil Quality Index was found to be maximum in case of Horticulture (12.35%) followed by Bamboo (10.40%) and Forest (9.80%). The termite mound soil was found to be higher in bulk density and water holding capacity compared to surrounding soil. They were also richer in clay, organic carbon, and concentrations of N, P, K, S, Ca, and Mg and enzymatic activities than their adjacent soils. Total acidity, Potential acidity and Exchangeable Al+ were found to be lower in the mounds as compared to the adjacent soils under all the land uses.