Termite mounds affect soil aggregate stability and aggregate-associated phosphorus forms in a tropical rubber plantation

• Published in: Plant and soil 2024-05, Vol.498 (1-2), p.93-109
• Main Authors: Lin, Fangmei, Jin, Yanqiang, Liu, Chenggang, Ren, Yan, Jiang, Chuan, Feng, Defeng, Tang, Jianwei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aggregate stability; Aggregates; Agriculture; Agroforestry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Chambers; Chemical properties; Cycles; Ecology; Erosion resistance; Fertility; Isoptera; Life Sciences; microaggregates; Mounds; Phosphorus; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plantations; Research Article; Rubber; Soil aggregates; Soil chemistry; Soil properties; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil stability; Storage; Termites; Tropical environments; Tropical soils
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-023-05880-4

Aims Termites function as “soil engineers” in tropical agroforestry ecosystems. However, of their role in phosphorus (P) cycling little is known. We aimed to investigate the impact of termite activity on soil aggregate stability and P fractions at the aggregate level in a tropical rubber plantation. Methods Fungus-growing termite mounds (active and abandoned) involving both above- and belowground locations were studied in a 24-year-old rubber stand. The mass percentage and stability of aggregates, P fractions contents and other major chemical properties of soil aggregates were measured. Aggregate-associated P preservation capacity was also calculated. Results More aggregates  2 mm aggregate size), moderately labile P (0.25–1 mm), and non-labile P (0.053–1 mm) in active aboveground mounds were significantly higher than other types. The changes in specific P forms enriched TP i in aggregates > 2 mm and TP o in 0.053–1 mm size of active aboveground mounds relative to others, implying the importance of P o storage in microaggregates induced by termite activity involved in long-term P transformation. Furthermore, middle-sized (0.25–2 mm) aggregates stored more P and represented the highest P storing capacity, especially for active belowground chambers. Conclusions These results suggest that in the presence of termite activity, P cycling is greatly enhanced in aboveground mounds despite the poor aggregate stability, whereas P forms are stable after mound abandonment, except for a higher H 2 O-P i concentration aboveground. Our study provides an important reason why mound soils can be considered as fertility amendments for agroforestry practices in P-deficient tropical soils.