Growth and Yields Performance Evaluation of Maize Raised on Termite Mound and Surrounding Soils

Abstract

Termites are social insects and the mounds they develop are considered to be a waste. They fed on agricultural products and wooden structures and hence, they are considered to be destructive. The resultant mound soil is an agricultural soil which is rich in nutrients, but its usefulness in agriculture and construction industry had not been explored. Thus, the study evaluated the Growth and yields performance of maize raised on termite mound and surrounding soils in Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. Maize was cultivated on the termite and surrounding soils as well as on their 50-50% mixture by weight and the data of the yields of maize was subjected to statistical analysis using T test at 95% confidence level. The yields of maize cobs per stands for termite mound soil in plots 1, 4, 7 were 1,2,1; for the surrounding soil in plots 3,6,9 are 1,1,1 and for the mixture of the surrounding; and the termite mound soil were 3,2,2. The yields of maize cultivated on plots 1, 4, 7 (TMS); 2, 5, 8 (TMS+SRS); 3, 6, 9 (SRS) using t-distribution table were O.75<u<l .87 or l.31±O.56; l.68<u<2.92 or 2.30±0.62; 0.75<u<l.25 or 1.00±0.25. Mound soil had high nutrient content and high shear strength, thus it can be used for soil amendment. The findings from the study added to the knowledge database on soil fertility and can be adopted for similar work in any part of the country.