THE EFFECTIVE ROLE OF DESERT SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE AMITERMES DESERTORUM (DESNEUX) (ISOPTERA :TERMITIDAE) FOR CHANGING SOME SOIL PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Document Type : Research articles.

Authors

1 Plant protection Research Institute Dokki, Giza

2 Dept. of Soil and water, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University

Abstract

This study is concerned with subterranean termite activity A.
desertorum as related to some changes in the physical and chemical
characteristics of the tested soil at Aswan Governorate, Egypt.
Infestation by this species is frequent in such region, where it attacks
or infests the date palm trees, wood trees and soil field crops, as well
as results in a greatly economic injury. Field observations and soil
analysis showed that, foraging activity of A. desertorum results in
various physical and chemical modifications in soil material, i.e.,
upward movement of fine soil particles from the subsurface dense fine
textured to the surface one, which is emphasized by the relatively
high contents of silt and clay fractions in soil mud tunnels and
adhesive soil with P.V.C. traps (subterranean termites constrictions).
Also, soil constriction materials showed more an increment in each of
organic matter, total soluble salts, soluble cations & anions and low
pH value than the uninfested soil material.

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