EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT ANT NEST MEDIA FOR GROWTH AND YIELD OF SOYBEAN

The nutrient constituent of nest structures in relation to the growth and yield of soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) were studied. Nest structures collected from mango, Mangifera indica; bush mango, Irvingia gabonensis; kola, Cola nitida; newbouldia, Newbouldia laevis, oil bean plants, Pentaclethra macrophylla, ground termitaria and unaffected soils were used. Except in a few instances, plant height, stem girth, pod and grain yield of arboreal ant-nest media plants were significantly (P < 0.05) greater, compared with those of ground termite nests; as nest structures’ media were to their corresponding adjacent unmodified soils. Termitaria and P. macrophylla host media delayed maturity compared to those of the other nest structures or the unaffected soils. Nutrient properties were positively correlated with growth and yield parameters, but correlated negatively with maturity date. Principal component analysis revealed phosphorus in nest structures as being critical for optimum soybean yield. These nutrient rich structures could therefore be harnessed to ameliorate the iron-and/or aluminum-induced phosphorus-deficient problems of acidic tropical soils to boost soybean production in this area.