Impact of the presence of subterranean termites Macrotermes gilvus (Termitidae) to physico-chemical soil modification on the rubber plantation land

Abstract

A study on the existence of subterranean termites nest Macrotermes gilvus (Hagen) and its effect on soil circumtance around the nest were conducted in a rubber plantation land managed using organic fertilizers and without the use of pesticides. The study aimed to determine the impact of the presence of the termites nesting on land to the quantity of soil nutrients, as nitrogen (N-total), phosphate (P-available), potassium (K-exchange), C-organic and soil textures. Termite nests were grouped into 3 groups, namely small (100 to 2000 cm2), medium (2001 to 4000 cm2) and large (4001 cm2 >) sizes. Soil samples points were taken on the land adjacent to the nest, on the land away from the nest, and on the nest wall. Soil nutrient values were analyzed following the standard procedures for soil analysis. The result show each quantity of the soil nutrients and soil fractions between soil reference are different. It was showed that this termite influence on the soil was sufficiently large to change characteristic of soil on termite mound and their adjacent soil. So, the presence of subterranean termites nesting in the rubber plantation land were the positive effect on the agroecosystem or sustainable agricultural practices of rubber plantation land. Key words: C-organic, Phosphate, Macrotermes gilvus, Nitrogen, Potassium, rubber-plantation.