Ecological and Soil Quality Studies on Termite Fauna in and around Kalaburagi District, Karnataka, India

Neelakanth Wali¹, D. Vishwajit² and V. Prashant^2,

¹M.S.I Degree College, Kalaburagi-585102, Karnataka, India

²Department of PG Studies and Research in Zoology, Sharanbasva University, Kalaburagi-585103, Karnataka, India

Cite this paper:
Neelakanth Wali, D. Vishwajit and V. Prashant. Ecological and Soil Quality Studies on Termite Fauna in and around Kalaburagi District, Karnataka, India. Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences. 2022; 10(12):806-815. doi: 10.12691/aees-10-12-16

Abstract

Termites are eusocial insects that live in colonies as workers, soldiers, and breeding castes that occur worldwide, mainly in the tropics, and act as decomposers of invertebrates, although they constitute a major only 3% of the species that live on it are pests that cause damage to agriculture, forestry, dwellings, and structures. In the present study we have recorded three species of termites in the study area; Odontotermes obesus, Odontotermes longignathus and Odontotermes horni. Out of the 3 species recorded the Odontotermes obesus and Odontotermes longignathus were both found in tree and mounds, except Odontotermes horni which was only found in mounds and was absent in the tree. The study was conducted in open areas of Gulbarga University, Kalaburagi and Swami Samarth math National Highway, Humnabad road. 4 sites were selected based on the diverse ecological conditions. The levels of pH, EC, Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium in soil varied significantly in tree and mound habitats. Where the O. longignathus in tree had 6.43±0.14, 1.03±0.02, 249.9±1.85, 41.68±0.86, and 214.1±1.96 respectively. Whereas O. longignathus in mound had 6.22±0.17, 0.75±0.02, 287.1±3.21, 29.2±1.13 and 118.1±4.28 respectively. pH of all soil samples were towards neutral, EC also in normal range and In all the soil samples N is more followed by K and P (N>K>P). From the results it is clear that the soil sample of O.Obesus is more of fertile than that of other one species soil samples, O. Longignathus. These soil samples can be utilize to improve the fertility of agricultural land so as to increase the crop production and for sustainability of fertility for long time.

Keywords:
termites Kalaburagi ecological studies Gulbarga University

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