Species Composition and Physicochemical Characteristics of Termite Mounds in the New and Old Campuses of Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

The objectives were to collect and identify sample of termite species in Bayero University, Kano (BUK) and to determine the soil sample composition of the termite mounds in the two campuses. The study area comprises of non-academic area, academic area and staff quarters for ease of data collection. Sites were chosen sequentially based on 400m × 400m (1600m²) size to give 50% of the area. The number of mounds in each grid was counted, and the coordinates were also taken using a GPS device. The types of mound, such as mound associated with trees, buildings and on bare land were recorded. Each mound was dug, and castes obtained were identified at the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Samples of soils from various mounds were collected, processed and analyzed for their physico-chemical properties. Descriptive statistics and students’ t-test were used to summarize the data at p<0.05. The results revealed three species of termites namely: Macrotermes bellicosus, Eutermes parvulus and Nasutitermstues spp. The study further established that, the mound soil of Nasutitermes spp. contained higher calcium (3.12 cmol/kg), magnesium (2.52 cmol/kg), sodium (0.35 cmol/kg) and potassium (0.36 cmol/kg) than mound soils of both Eutermes parvulus and Macrotermes bellicosus. The termites mound soil of Nasutitermes spp. was found to be more fertile compared to other mound soils of termite species examined in this study. Therefore, it is recommended that termite mound soil of Nasutitermes spp. may be adopted by subsistence farmers for growing of crops in the study area as an alternative to the expensive inorganic fertilizers.