@article{PAR00000080,
  title = {{N}itrogen transformations associated with termite biogenic structures in a dry savanna ecosystem},
  author = {{N}diaye, {D}. and {L}epage, {M}ichel and {S}all, {C}.{E}. and {B}rauman, {A}lain},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{S}oil structures built by litter-feeding termites are one of the main soil translocation processes in dry tropical savanna. {R}unways (soil sheeting) made of soil particles cemented with salivary secretions covering the dead plant pieces collected on the ground surface represent the main soil structures. {T}he aim of this study was to determine the impact of this soil engineering activity on the microbially-mediated {N} transformations (nitrification and denitrification) associated with termite sheeting. {W}e investigated the hypothesis that the physicochemical and microbial properties of termite soil sheeting depend on (i) the termite species and (ii) the type of organic substrate consumed. {S}oil sheeting built by two of the main savanna species, {M}acrotermes subhyalinus and {O}dontotermes nilensis, were sampled on field plots treated with three different types of litter ({A}cacia leaves, millet straw, both whole and ground (< 500 mum), and cattle manure). {T}he soil's organic {C}, total {N}, inorganic {N}, microbial biomass, potential {CO}2 respiration, nitrification and denitrification were measured. {F}or both termite species and all types of litter, the soil sheeting was enriched in organic {C} and inorganic {N}, resulting in an increase in soil respiration, whereas the microbial biomass was unchanged with respect to the reference soil. {W}ith the exception of the soil nitrification potential, the type of organic substrate did not significantly affect the properties of the soil sheeting measured. {H}owever, the nitrogen cycle was affected differently by the two termite species. {I}n {O}. nilensis sheeting, the denitrification potential was reduced with respect to the reference soil, whereas the nitrification potential was inhibited in {M}. subhyalinus sheeting. {T}he changes in the nitrogen cycle processes resulted in an increase in {NH}4+ and {NO}3- in the termite soil sheeting, increasing the availability of nitrogen to plants. {T}his study reinforces the importance of termites as a keystone savanna group whose building activities have an effect on tropical soil mineralization.},
  keywords = {biogenic structures ; denitrification ; nitrification ; nitrogen cycle ; soil sheeting ; termites},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}lant and {S}oil},
  volume = {265},
  numero = {1-2},
  pages = {189--196},
  ISSN = {0032-079{X}},
  year = {2004},
  DOI = {10.1007/s11104-005-0892-9},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/{PAR}00000080},
}