How Do Termites Help the Soil?
WouterTermites have been found to add nutrients to the soil that can help plants grow. They also have the ability to increase crop yields. This is because they mix both organic and inorganic matter in the soil.
Termite and ant feces contain nitrogen that can be passed into the soil. They increase the amount of nitrogen in the soil and thus improve crop yields.
Termite mounds contain high levels of nitrogen. This allows plants to thrive on less rain. It also helps preserve seeds. This helps the surrounding area rebound more quickly when rain resumes.
Termite mounds provide a good habitat for beneficial bacteria. These bacteria extract nutrients from the air and water and lock them into the soil. They also produce indole acetic acid, a chemical that promotes plant growth. They can also produce antimicrobials that can protect crops from pathogens.
Farmers in Africa are turning to innovative ways to integrate termites into farming systems. They use the soil from termite nests as a top soil. They also plant vegetables and fruits on top of the termite mounds. In addition, they bury manure in holes near newly planted grains to attract the termites.
In addition, they have discovered that termites boost wheat crop yields in arid climates. In fact, termites and ants can transmit nitrogen to the wheat, increasing the crop by 36 percent.
Termite mounds also store moisture in drylands. This is important because most of the water from rainfall does not reach the ground.
