Soil-dwelling termites and mulches improve nutrient release and crop performance on Sahelian crusted soil

Studies were carried out on crusted soil in northern Burkina Faso to assess the role of termites and two organic materials differing in chemical composition in improving the productivity of crusted soil. A split plot design was used, the main treatment being the application of an insecticide (Dursban). This resulted in plots with and without termite activity. Subtreatments consisted of Pennisetum pedicelatum straw or cattle dung applied as mulches at a rate of 4 and 7 Mg ha−1, respectively. Four months after mulching, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) was sown on the plots as a test crop. The chemical and physical properties of soil, the chemical properties of termite sheetings, and cowpea performance were measured on all plots. It was found that termite plots had higher nutrient contents and more favorable physical properties for plant growth than nontermite plots. Consequently, crops had higher biomass and grain yield on termite plots than on nontermite plots. Correlation analysis indicated a strong relation between termite activity and crop nutrient uptake, change of soil physical properties, and crop performance. This relation was stronger than that between chemical composition of mulch and these variables. It was concluded that termite activity can play a key role in organic‐material management for the regeneration of crusted soils in the dry conditions of the Sahel Sudanian zone.