Research Article

Spatial Variability of Micronutrients in Termite Infested Soil Formed on Nupe Sandstone in the Guinea Savanna Region of Nigeria

Obi J. C.1*, Ogunkunle A. O.2
1 Department of Soil Science, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria
2 Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
* Corresponding author: obijc@soilsjournalnigeria.com
Published: Aug, 2011
DOI: 10.67042/njss.2011.4uaeggg2
Pages: 102-111
Views: 559
Downloads: 673

Abstract

Soil micronutrients are nutrients required by plants in small quantity. They affect plant growth either directly or indirectly. Availability of these elements for crop growth and development may be affected by their distribution on the landscape. Variability in crop yield may indirectly be attributable to soil micronutrient variability. Termites have been implicated through their feeding habit, construction and repair of nest (i.e point centered pedoturbation process) for soil variability. This study therefore, assessed the influence of termite infestation on the spatial variability of iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) in the guinea savanna region of Nigeria. These micronutrients were measured at the 0 – 15 cm depth of 20 m x 20 m grid samples in two termite infested (plots 1 and 2) and one none infested (plot 3) plots measuring 100 m x 100 m in Mokwa and Kontagora area of Niger State in Nigeria. Data collected was subjected to descriptive statistics, coefficient of variation (CV), test for normality and spatial dependence. The micronutrients were moderately variable with CV ranging from 7.5 to 33.3%, not dominated with outliers but had similar means and median. The nugget/sill ratio showed moderate spatial dependence for Fe (plot 1), Cu (plot 3) and Mn (plot 1 and 3) with range 36.4 – 73.0% for Mokwa and zero for Kontagora. Strong spatial dependence was observed in Fe (plot 1 and 3), Zn (plot 1, 2, 3), Cu (plot 1 and 2) and Mn (plot 2) in Mokwa and Fe (plots 1 and 3), Zn (plots 1, 2, and 3), Cu (plots 1 and 3) and Mn (plots 2 and 3) in Kontagora. Geostatistical analysis revealed that strong spatial dependence exists for Cu and Mn in infested plots of Mokwa, an indication that termites could be a factor in the variability of some soil micronutrients through pedoturbation.

Keywords

spatial variability coefficient of variation micronutrients termite infestation guinea savanna

References

  1. Brouwer, J. and Bouma, J. (1997). Soil and crop growth variability in the sahel: highlights of research (1990-1995) at ICRISAT Sahelian centre. Information Bulletin 49. ICRISAT, Patanchewru Andrah Pradesh, India.
  2. Burroguh, P. A. (1991). Sampling designs for quantifying map unit composition. In: Spatial Variabilities of Soils and Landforms. M.J. Mausbach and L. P. Wilding (eds) SSA. Special Publication No. 28. Soil Science Society of America Madison, WI. pp. 89-127.
  3. Cambardella, C. A., Moorman, T. B., Novak, J. M., Parkin, T. B., Karlan, D. L., Turcp, R. F. and Konopka, A. E. (1994). Field scale variability of soil properties in central Iowa soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 58:1501-1511.
  4. Horwarth, J. L. and Johnson, D. L. (2006). Mima-type mounds in Southwest Missouri: Expression of point-centered and locally thickened biomantles. Geomorphology. 77:306-319.
  5. Hulugalle N. R. and Ndi, N. J. (1993). Soil properties of termite mounds under different land uses in Typic kandiudalf of southern Cameroon, Agric. Ecosystem and Environment. 43(1): 69 - 78.
  6. Johnson, D. L., Horwath, J. L. and Johnson, D. N. (2003). Mima and other animal mounds as point-centered biomantles. Geol. Soc. Amer. Abstracts with programs. 34(8): 258.
  7. Jouquet, P., Barré, P., Lepage, M. and Velde, B. (2005). Impact of subterranean fungus-growing termites (Isoptera, Macrotermitinae) on chosen soil properties in West African savanna. Biol. Fertil. Soils, 41:365-370.
  8. Kang, B. T. (1978). Effect of some biological factor on soil variability in the tropics. III. Effect of macrotermes mounds. Plant and Soil 50:241-251.
  9. Lal, R. (1987). Tropical Ecology and Physical Edaphology, John Wiley, Chichester.
  10. Lal, R. (1988). Effect of Macrofauna and soil properties in tropical savanna. Agric. Ecosystem and Environment. 24:101 -106.
  11. Lobry de Bruyn, L. A. and Conacher, A. J. (1995). Soil modification by termites in the central wheatbelt of Western Australia. Australian Journal of Soil Research 33(1): 179 - 193.
  12. Manu, A., Pfordresher, A. A., Geiger, S. C., Wilding, L. P. and Hossner, L. R. (1996). Soil parameters related to crop growth variability in Western Niger, West Africa. Soil Science Society of America Journal 60: 283-288.
  13. Mehlick, A. (1984). Mehlick 3 Soil Test Extractant: A Modification of Mehlick 2. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 15:1409-1416.
  14. Neilsen, D. R., Bigger, J. W. and Erh, K. T. (1973). Spatial variability of field measured soil water properties. Hilgardia 42: 215-259.
  15. Nooren, C.A.M, van Breemen, N., Stoorvogel, J.J., Jongmans, A.G., (1995). The role of earthworms in the formation of sandy surface soils in a tropical forest in Ivory Coast. Geoderma 65, 135–148.
  16. Obi, J. C. (2006). Influence of termite mound on soil characteristics, variability and arable crop production in the savanna ecology of Niger State, Nigeria. A Ph.D thesis in the Department of Agronomy, submitted to the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
  17. Phillips, J. D. (2007). Development of texture contrast soils by a combination of bioturbation and translocation. Catena 70 (2007) 92–104
  18. Russo, D. and Bresler, E. (1981). Soil hydraulic properties as stochastic processes: I. An analysis of field variability. Soil Science Society of America Journal 45: 682-687.
  19. SAS Institute. (1989). SAS/STST User's Guide, Version 6, 4th Ed, Vol. 1 and 2. SAS Institute, Carry, NC.
  20. Shulka, M. K., Slater, B, K., Lal, R. and Cepuder, P. (2004a). Spatial variability of soil properties and potential management classification of a chernozemic field in lower Austria. Soil Science 169: 852-860.
  21. Shulka, M. K, Lal R, and Ebinger, M. (2004b) Principal component analysis for predicting biomass and corn yield under different land uses. Soil Science 169: 215-224.
  22. Trangmar, B. B., Yost, R. S. and Uehara, G. (1985). Application of geostatistics to spatial studies of soil properties. Advances in Agronomy. 38: 45-94.
  23. Umeh, V. C., Ivbijaro, M. F. and Ewete, F. K. (1999). Relationship between characteristics of Macrotermes sp. Mound material and their surrounding soils. Insect Science Application 19(2/3): 251-255.
  24. Wendt, J. W., Barrada, A. Gaoh, M. G. and Schulze, D. G. (1993). Phosphorus sorption characteristics of productive and unproductive Niger soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 57 (3): 766-773.
  25. Wood, T. G., Johnson, R. A. and Anderson, T. J. (1983). Modification of soils in Nigeria's savanna by soil feeding Cubitermes (Isoptera, Termitidae). Soil Biology and Biochemistry 15:575-579.
How to Cite

C., O. J., & O., O. A. (2011). Spatial Variability of Micronutrients in Termite Infested Soil Formed on Nupe Sandstone in the Guinea Savanna Region of Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, 21(2), 102-111. https://doi.org/10.67042/njss.2011.4uaeggg2

O. J. C., and O. A. O., "Spatial Variability of Micronutrients in Termite Infested Soil Formed on Nupe Sandstone in the Guinea Savanna Region of Nigeria," Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 102-111, August 2011. doi: 10.67042/njss.2011.4uaeggg2

Share this article:
Facebook X / Twitter LinkedIn
Download PDF Back to Articles