Two species of Termites (Coptotermes acinaformis and Nasutitermes walkeri) mounds from Bogoro and Katagum local Government Areas of Bauchi state, representing the Guinea and Sahel savannahs respectively were analyzed for their physical properties. In each two termite mounds were randomly selected and their soils sampled at a depth of 0 30 cm using 100 cm3 stainless steel cylinders. The result obtained for the moisture content %, specific gravity, organic matter contents (g/kg) and pH for Nausitetermes walkeri in Bogoro were 26.05, 2.00, 4.44 and 6.40 while for Coptotermes acinoformis, the values were 18.00, 2.30, 4.50, and 6.20 respectively. The same trend was observed for samples in Katagum. The % moisture content, specific gravity, organic matter contents (g/kg) and pH for Nausitetermes walkeri were 27. 65, 2.10, 4.30, 6.9 while for Coptotermes acinoformis were 17.70, 2.80, 4.00, 7.1 respectively. In both study areas, only the % moisture contents of the Nausitetermes walkeri mounds was observed to be higher than those of the Coptotermes acinoformis, indicating that there are no significant differences at (p < 0.05 ) in the physical properties of the two termite mounds. The colour for Coptotermes acinoformis were basically brown, dark brown and reddish brown in both ecological zone.
Key words: Tamitarium Soil, physical properties, termites, mounds.
|