CHEMICAL PROPERTIES ASSOCIATED WITH GUTS, SOIL AND NEST MATERIALS OF ODONTOTERMES AND MACROTERMES SPECIES FROM KENYA

Abstract

Changes in carbon and nitrogen cycles in tropical soils affect soil functioning and ecosystem activity.Termites play important roles in carbon and nitrogen cycles, thus determination of levels of suchcompounds is essential. This study was aimed at determining the levels of various forms of nitrogen,carbon and pH in the guts, soil and nest materials associated with Odontotermes and Macrotermestermite species. Macro- and micro-elements such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc,manganese, iron and copper were also evaluated. The standard soil analyses and concentrations ofvarious forms of nitrogen, carbon and pH in the samples were performed using calometric and Bremmer’smethods. Results showed the texture grade of the soils ranged between sandy clay loamy to loamy sandacross the samples. The clay content for most mounds was comparably higher than in the surroundingsoil. Most of the concentrations of ammonia, nitrate and total organic carbon between the termites andwithin the gut sections were significantly different (p < 0.05). This was observed between and within thetermite mounds. Levels of ammonia (3.00 – 6.00 ppm) and nitrate (6.00 - 11.50 ppm) were highest in thehindguts of all termites analyzed than the respective foreguts and midguts sections. Notably, levels ofammonia (6.00 – 14.50 ppm), nitrate (16.00 – 83.00 ppm) and organic carbon (31.00 – 37.00 %) werehighest in the fungus comb samples. Likewise, levels of all macro- and micro-elements investigated werehighest in the fungus combs. Manganese had the highest concentration (20.28 ppms) while copper hadthe least concentration (0.11ppms).