Effect of soil characteristics on termite infestation in mango orchards.
Singh S. K., Singh G.
Author Affiliation: G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263 145, India.
Agricultural Science Digest 22 : 105-107
Abstract : The study compares the physicochemical characteristics of termite soil galleries and surrounding soil, and investigates the interactions of organic carbon, sand, silt and clay with termite infestation. Soil samples were collected from mango orchards of Upeda (Ghaziabad), IARI (New Delhi), Rohenda and Khurja (Bulandhsahar), Patharchatta and Kiccha (Udham Singh Nagar) at different dates, viz., 12, 13, 14, 16 and 19 October 1998, respectively. Termite soil galleries on trees in all orchards have higher organic carbon, phosphorus and potash than the surrounding soil. The soil pH was lower in termite soil galleries than the surrounding soil. Soil organic carbon was negatively correlated with percent termite infestation in all places. As the sand percent increased in the soil, the percent infestation also increased at all places except IARI and Kicha. Silt percent is positively correlated with percent infestation in all places except Khurja and IARI, while clay percent in soils of Upeda, Rohenda and Khurja were negatively correlated.