Can the Odontotermes horni (Wasmann) subterranean termite significantly alter the macronutrient status of various host plants?

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze the impact of O.horni foraging on different types of organic litters such as maize straw, finger millet straw, cattle dung, farm waste, grass, silver oak leaves, eucalyptus leaves, and bark. The results showed that the earthen sheetings of O.horni had significantly lower total nitrogen content compared to the various organic litters. Moreover, there were variations in the organic carbon, organic matter, total nitrogen, and available N, P2O5, K, CEC, and C: N ratio content among the earthen sheetings of different organic litters. Interestingly, the earthen sheetings had slightly higher nutrient content than the surrounding subsoils.