@article{fdi:010074513,
  title = {{F}ungus-growing termite foraging activity increases water infiltration but only slightly and temporally impacts soil physical properties in southern {I}ndian woodlands},
  author = {{C}heik, {S}. and {B}ottinelli, {N}icolas and {S}ukumar, {R}. and {J}ouquet, {P}ascal},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}n the tropics, termites are known to be key litter decomposers and soil bioturbators. {T}heir foraging activity in the soil leads to the production of galleries with specific soil physical, chemical and biological properties. {T}his study investigates the influence of these foraging galleries on water infiltration and soil properties in south-{I}ndian woodlands. {A} significant increase in water infiltration (x 3 that of control plots) was measured in soil as a result of {O}dontotermes spp. activities, likely because of the production of galleries in the first cm of the soil. {T}ermite foraging activity was also associated with a significantly greater amount of clay in soil, probably because termites cover the wall of their galleries with fine-size particles, resulting in an increased saturated soil water content. {C}onversely, no differences in {C} content, {CO}2 emission and soil bulk density were measured in comparison with the surrounding soil. {C}onsequently, this study confirms the beneficial impact of termites on water infiltration in soil but suggests a rather low local impact on soil chemical and biological functioning.},
  keywords = {{O}dontotermes spp. ; {S}oil functioning ; {B}eerkan method ; {F}ield-saturated ; hydraulic conductivity ; {INDE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{E}uropean {J}ournal of {S}oil {B}iology},
  volume = {89},
  numero = {},
  pages = {20--24},
  ISSN = {1164-5563},
  year = {2018},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.ejsobi.2018.09.001},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010074513},
}