Termite Control without Chemicals - Infonet-Biovision
Termite Control without Chemicals - Infonet-Biovision Termite Control without Chemicals - Infonet-Biovision
Termite ControlAdding organic material to the soilFungus-growing termites prefer to eat dead plant material. Their attacks arethought to be related to soils with low organic matter content. This is becausesuch soils do not contain enough food for termites to live and they resort tofeeding on living plant material. Adding compost or well-rotted manure to the soiland sowing green manures helps to increase the organic matter in the soil.Digging compost into the soil to increase organic matter contentEncouraging predatorsTermites have many predators because they provide a source of protein. Insectsthat eat termites include spiders, beetles, flies, wasps and especially ants. Otherpredators including frogs, reptiles, birds and mammals such as aardvarks,pangolins, bats, monkeys and humans. Encouraging this kind of wildlife willhelp to reduce the number of termites. Bushes and trees are a home for manyof these useful creatures. These areas of natural habitat can be left aroundfields where crops are grown. If these areas are destroyed then there is animbalance between the populations of predator and pest.page 5HDRA - the organic organisation
Termite ControlSubstitute food sourcesDamage from termites which feed on dead plant material can be reduced byadding organic material to the soil. The farmer should avoid having bare, drysoil around crops.However, there is also a short term solution which involves providing termiteswith an alternative source of food. This can be done by using mulch around thebase of plants. Mulching with items such as hay, manure, wood shavings, woodash or threshed maize cobs has been shown (in South Africa and Uganda), todramatically decrease termite attacks. Termites are attracted to the mulch ratherthan the crop. Vetiver grass leaf mulch has been shown to prevent termiteattack around the base of trees.However, offering substitute food may also attract termites to the area andincrease the overall damage done to trees and crops. Each case is likely to bedifferent and dependent on termite species and tree/crop species.Crop rotationPlanting the same crop on the same land year after year reduces soil fertilityand structure. Crops growing in such conditions will be weaker and susceptibleto termites. Crop rotation can play an important role in reducing termite attack.Crop rotation means that crops are grown on a different piece of land eachyear. This can prevent pest and disease build up and also help the soil torecover nutrients.HDRA - the organic organisation page 6
- Page 1 and 2: Termite Controlwithout Chemicalspro
- Page 3 and 4: Termite ControlBenefits provided by
- Page 5: Termite ControlOrganic control meth
- Page 9 and 10: Termite ControlBreaking up mounds a
- Page 11 and 12: Termite ControlTrees and shrubs wit
- Page 13 and 14: Termite ControlPlants with termite
- Page 15 and 16: Termite ControlNotesHDRA - the orga
<strong>Termite</strong> <strong>Control</strong>Adding organic material to the soilFungus-growing termites prefer to eat dead plant material. Their attacks arethought to be related to soils with low organic matter content. This is becausesuch soils do not contain enough food for termites to live and they resort tofeeding on living plant material. Adding compost or well-rotted manure to the soiland sowing green manures helps to increase the organic matter in the soil.Digging compost into the soil to increase organic matter contentEncouraging predators<strong>Termite</strong>s have many predators because they provide a source of protein. Insectsthat eat termites include spiders, beetles, flies, wasps and especially ants. Otherpredators including frogs, reptiles, birds and mammals such as aardvarks,pangolins, bats, monkeys and humans. Encouraging this kind of wildlife willhelp to reduce the number of termites. Bushes and trees are a home for manyof these useful creatures. These areas of natural habitat can be left aroundfields where crops are grown. If these areas are destroyed then there is animbalance between the populations of predator and pest.page 5HDRA - the organic organisation
Change language