SOME CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ‘TERMITE SOILS’ IN KENYA COFFEE FIELDS

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Abstract
Summary: Chemical data are presented for a number of related topsoil, subsoil, and termite‐soil samples collected in mulched coffee established on a laterized red loam coffee soil.The comparisons of mean values for soil organic carbon, total base‐exchange capacity, total exchangeable bases, exchangeable calcium, and exchangeable magnesium show that there is no statistically significant mean difference between the topsoil and termite‐soil sample results. The subsoil sample results, however, are significantly lower than either the topsoil or termite‐soil samples in all these results.Similar comparisons of the mean values for soil pH and exchangeable calcium plus magnesium, when expressed as a percentage of the total exchangeable bases, show that the soil has been altered by Odontotermes badius(Hav.) in constructing the ‘runs; it is left with a higher pH value and with an increased proportion of the total exchangeable bases present as calcium plus magnesium.It is not possible from these results to say conclusively whether the termite soil samples are derived from the adjacent topsoil or subsoil.It is concluded that the presence of the termite soil which eventually becomes intimately mixed with the topsoil during cultivation and weed‐control operations is not a point to be considered against Odontotermes badius(Hav.) when assessing the ‘pros and cons’ of its presence in mulched coffee.

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