Volume 12, Issue 25, January - June 2026

Assessment of soil properties under termites’ biodiversity in dryland soil conserved with animal dung and plant biomass

Suleiman USMAN^1♦, Umar MUHAMMAD², Auwalu ABUBAKAR³, Umar Osu UJIH⁴, Samaila USMAN⁵

¹Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University Dutse Nigeria
²Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University Dutse Nigeria
³Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University Dutse Nigeria
⁴Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, Federal University Dutse, Nigeria
⁵Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria

^♦Corresponding author
Suleiman Usman, Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University Dutse Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Soil termites played key roles in soil formation and soil development. Soil termites decomposed plant biomass and animal dung for soil quality and nutrients enrichment. This study assessed the soil properties under termites’ biodiversity in dryland soil conserved with animal dung and plant biomass. The study used five (5) experimental plots into fifteen (15) different treatments [(5 x 3 = 15: Control (C1 to C5,), Plant biomass (P1 to P5) and Animal dung (A1 to A5)]. Across the treatments, soil texture and soil structure were improved from grain particles (silt <%10) to more granular in nature (silt >%10). The EC was recorded from 0.07dsm-1 to 1.97dsm-1 indicating a very low saline soil. Soil pH was rated as moderate (ranged between 4.05 and 5.82). The %OC was enhanced (from 1.26% to 2.48%) indicating a favorable soil condition for plant growth. The %OM was increased (from 1.17% to 2.48%) indicating a favourable soil condition for varieties of cereals crop production. The addition of plant biomass and animal dung under dryland soils can be considered useful for soil quality and soil fertility improvement. This study suggests that regular supply of organic materials to the dryland soil such as animal dung and plant biomass should be encouraged.

Keywords: Soil, Termite activities, Plant biomass, Animal dung, Soil ecosystem

Discovery Agriculture, 2026, 12, e9da3211

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Published: 21 May 2026