@article{fdi:010068943,
  title = {{E}cosystem services of termites ({B}lattoidea : {T}ermitoidae) in the traditional soil restoration and cropping system {Z}ai in northern {B}urkina {F}aso ({W}est {A}frica)},
  author = {{K}aiser, {D}. and {L}epage, {M}ichel and {K}onat{\'e}, {S}. and {L}insenmair, {K}. {E}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he present study provides evidence of the effectiveness of some termite species in restoring barren soil and in maintaining long-term soil productivity, thereby facilitating sustainable agriculture in sub-{S}aharan {W}est {A}frica. {F}ungus-growers, in particular, move large quantities of soil to cover their food sources with 'soil sheetings', which protect the termites during foraging. {W}e selected study sites in northern {B}urkina {F}aso from four age-stages of the traditional restoration system {Z}ai, thus spanning three decades of soil restoration barren, crusted land, a millet field, and two reforested sites. {I}n a randomized block design, termites were attracted to different organic materials. {T}he aim was to assess the impact of their foraging structures (soil sheetings, foraging holes) on the restoration progress. {W}e quantified soil turnover by termites, macroporosity, water infiltration rate, and physicochemical soil properties. {F}ungus growing {O}dontotermes and {M}acrotermes species were the decisive soil engineers throughout the year, but only {O}dontotermes initiated the restoration process. {T}he dry weight of soil bioturbated during the dry season ranged between 216 and 32 tons ha(-1) mon(-1) in the most rehabilitated {Z}ai forest and the barren area, respectively. {B}y creating tunnels, the foraging activity of termites increased the water infiltration rate by a factor of 2 to 4. {S}heetings built on compost and hay showed significant increase in most parameters relevant for plant growth, especially during the dry season. {H}owever, the benefits resulting from the termites' tunnelling activities (improved water availability and soil aeration via macropores, soil turnover) are in the early stages of {Z}ai restoration likely to be more essential than the increased nutrient contents in sheeting soil, since water deficit leads to sapling mortality much faster than nutrient shortage. {O}ur study revealed that the impact of termites is dependent on the particular species and their ecological requirements. {F}urther studies in other areas are urgently required to clarify how generally valid our results are.},
  keywords = {{M}acrotermitinae ; soil management ; foraging activity ; sustainability ; soil fertility ; macroporosity ; {BURKINA} {FASO}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}griculture {E}cosystems and {E}nvironment},
  volume = {236},
  numero = {},
  pages = {198--211},
  ISSN = {0167-8809},
  year = {2017},
  DOI = {10.1016/lagee.2016.11.023},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010068943},
}