[01] Gemta Wakbulcho, Department of Environmental Science, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia. [02] Oljira Kenea, Department of Biology, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia.

A longitudinal study was undertaken from October 2018 to February 2019 within 250,000 m² (500 m x 500 m) of farm, range and protected lands to identify mound building termite species, determine mound density and evaluate physico-chemical properties of termite mound soil (TMS) and surrounding control soil (SCS) in Lalo Asabi district (LAD), western Ethiopia. Ten live mounds per land use type were sampled across the diagonal of the study site. The mounds were dug and termites were hand-collected with forceps and preserved in 80% ethanol labeled vials. Later identification of the termite specimen to species was done using soldier morphological characters with the help of keys to the genera of Ethiopian termites and mound characteristics. In addition, termite mound density per hectare of land type was estimated. For physico-chemical analysis, soil samples were taken from three randomly selected termite live mounds as a replicate per study site. The samples were taken at depth of 20-60 cm by digging each dome shaped sample mound. Control soil samples were also taken at 8 m distance away from the base of each mound from adjacent area of each experimental mound free of mound effect. From each mound and control soil, 1kg soil samples were taken according to standard methods and transported to Nekemte Regional Soil Laboratory for further analysis. Soil laboratory analysis was done and data were analyzed using SAS software version 2002. Mean comparison and least significant difference (LSD) were used to compare soil physico-chemical properties between TMS and the SCS in the three land use types. All the termite specimens collected from the active mounds were found to be Macroterms herus. Significant difference in average density of the mounds among the three land use types were recorded with higher average density in the range land followed by farm land and protected land in that order. Physico-chemical properties of TMS varied as compared to the SCS by land use types implicating that anthropogenic factors such as agriculture and livestock grazing have significant impact on termite activities and hence the top soil environment. Using soil conservation as integrated termite management will improve the impact of land use changes on termite activities and agriculture in the study setting.

Land Use Types, Termites, Termite Mound Soil, Surrounding Control Soil

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