Chemical and Geotechnical Properties of Termite

Mounds and Surrounding Soils

Anusha R, Dr. Arvee Sujil Johnson and Sreedevi C
Department of Civil Engineering
College of Engineering Trivandrum.
anusharadhakrishnan@yahoo.co.in, arveesujil@yahoo.co.uk

Abstract— Termites are the most dominant macroinvertebrates
in many tropical and subtropical ecosystems. They significantly
change the soil environment within the soil nest. The present
study attempts to do a comparison of chemical and geotechnical
properties of the mound soil and the surrounding surface soil and
also to explore the possibilities of using the cellulase enzyme
which is present in the mound soil for improving the unconfined
compressive strength of laterite and black cotton soil. Chemical
and geotechnical studies indicated that mound soil differ from the
surrounding surface soil in various aspects. With the addition of
commercially available cellulase enzyme the unconfined
compressive strength of the two soils improved. The percentage
increase in strength in lateritic soil is 19.16% and in black cotton
soil is 21.37%.
Keywords-termite mounds; trace elements; cellulase
I. INTRODUCTION
The world of social insects provides us with a variety of
complex structures. Colonies of ants or termites construct nests
that, on a relative scale as comparable in size to human cities.
Termites are often mentioned as an example of ecosystem
engineers. They significantly alter the physical, chemical and
biological properties of the soil environment [3]. They build
organo-mineral structures of different stability such as
galleries, casts, sheetings, fungus-comb chambers and mounds
[6]. Termites that form large, stable nest can concentrate the
organic materials they collect as forage in the vicinity of the
nest, in the form of inedible debris, stored food and waste
products.
Comparative studies of termite mound and the adjacent
soils had been carried out in previous research. Chemical
analysis showed that pH and the contents of organic C and N,
P, Ca and Mg were significantly higher in termite mounds
compared with adjacent areas [9]. The clay content of the
termite mound is significantly high compared to the
surrounding surface soil [2]. The microbial biomass of mound
material was approximately six times that of the surface soil
[5].
Termites can degrade cellulose by virtue of their symbioses
with mutualistic microbes and can produce their own cellulases
also. A Bacillus sp. strain isolated from termite mound soil
was found to produce extracellular carboxymethyl cellulase [7].
In soils, stability is usually a function of the organic (largely
polysaccharide and glycoprotein) content of the micro and
macro aggregates and of the availability multivalent cations.
The increase of polysaccharide within soil matrix is associated
with increase in shear strength, reducing coefficient of
permeability and highly resistant against soil erosion [1].
The objective of the research was to study (1) the
physiochemical and geotechnical properties of the termite
mound soil and to compare with the controls. (2) about the
stabilising chemicals of the mound soil and to check the
influence of cellulase on the unconfined compressive strength
of laterite and black cotton soils.
II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
A. Study Site
The investigation was conducted on five pairs of samples
which were collected from different localities of
Thiruvananthapuram and Nagercoil areas during February to
August 2010. Each pair of samples consist of termite-affected
soil taken from an active mound and the samples of the control
adjacent surface soils (without visible termite activity)
collected approximately 1.0 m from each mound sampled.
Fig.1 shows one of the termite mounds under investigation.
B. Sampling
The termite mounds were excavated and dismantled (Fig.
2). Lateritic soil was collected from the campus of College of
Engineering, Trivandrum. Black cotton soil was collected from
Chittur in Palakkad district. As the drying of soft clays
significantly affects the physical and engineering properties
care was taken to use the clay in their moist condition itself for
all the tests. In order to maintain uniformity of test results soil
sample was collected from a single pit from a depth below
1.2m. Soil was collected in polyethylene bags and directly
transported to the laboratory. The packed polythene bags were
stored in water filled containers to preserve the natural
condition. The enzyme used for the study, cellulase which was
derived out of Aspergillus Niger was brought from Kaypeeyes
biotech private limited, Mysore, India.
Figure1. A termite mound under investigation
 D. Plastic Limit
The plastic limit test was conducted according to ASTM
(D424 – 59). Comparing the plastic limit values in Fig. 6, as
the clay content of the mound soil is more than the
surrounding surface soil, its plastic limit value is also higher.
E. Plasticity Index
Considering the plasticity index values in Fig. 7, the
mound soils are more stable since the value is more for mound
soil than the control soil. Higher values of plasticity index and
low moisture content indicate that there is an increase in
cohesion which makes the mound stable.

Figure 2. A termite mound sample

C. Laboratory Analysis
Chemical and geotechnical investigations were carried out
on the bulk samples and the corresponding soils without
termites. The geotechnical analysis of soil samples were carried
out following the Indian standard laboratory procedures. The
mineralogy of both the mound soil and the surrounding soil
were analysed by X-ray Diffraction (XRD). Chemical analysis
were performed by X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) technique for
the major elements and some trace elements

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Figure 3. Percent natural water content in soil
The results are presented in successive sections that detail
the data of the mound soil (TM) and the surrounding surface
soil (Ssoil).

A. Natural Water Content

The first two pair of soil samples were collected during
summer season and the other three samples during rainy
season. From Fig. 3, for the first two samples the increase in
water content for the mound soil may be due to the: (i)
presence of organic content, (ii) increase in clay content, (iii)
higher percentage of chemical/enzymes in the mound soil and
(iv) presence of finer soil particles.

B. Organic Content
Organic content was determined using hydrogen peroxide Figure 4. Percent organic content in soil
method. It is observed that percentage of organic content for
mound soils and the nearby soil is higher when compared to
other normal soils. Comparing the mound soil and the nearby
soil in Fig. 4, the reduction in organic content of mound soil
may be due to the decomposition of organic matter by the
action of termites.
C. Liquid Limit
The liquid limit test was conducted using the cone
penetrometer method. From Fig. 5 the liquid limit obtained for
mound soil is greater than that of Ssoil in all the cases. This
increase in liquid limit for the mound soil may be due to: (i)
presence of organic content, (ii) increase in clay content, (iii)
higher percentage of chemical /enzymes in the mound soil and
(iv) presence of finer soil particles. And the increase in water
content of the surrounding in the other three samples is due to Figure 5. Percent liquid limit of soil
the impermeability of mound soil compared to the surrounding
soil.
 The other reasons for the increase in the plasticity values
of the mound soils are the higher percentage of
chemical/enzymes of termites, organic content and the clay
content. A detailed study is required to analyze the type of
chemical/enzymes present in the mound soils that contribute
for the increase in plasticity values, though an effort is made in
the present project study.
F. Specific Gravity
The specific gravity (G) values in Fig. 8 of all soil samples are
less compared to normal soils found in the corresponding
region. Generally reduction of specific gravity is mainly due to
the presence of high organic content and lesser amount of iron
content.
Figure 8. Specific gravity of soil
G. pH
To measure the pH of the soil, 10g sample mixed with
100ml of distilled water standing 24 hours. pH of the soil was
determined using a digital pH meter. All the samples were
acidic, mound soil being less acidic compared to the controls
as shown in Fig. 9.
H. Particle size Analysis
Wet sieve analysis and hydrometer analysis was done for
soil texture profiles. Table I gives the particle sizes of mound
soil and surrounding surface soils.

Figure 9. pH values in soil

I.
Figure 6. Percent plastic limit in soil
Chemical Analysis
The XRF analysis indicated that the main oxides present in
sample pair 1 are SiO2, Al2O3 and Fe2O3. About 75 to 80 % of
sample pair 2 is contributed by SiO 2. From the XRF studies it
can be seen that the amount of Al2O3 is higher in both mound
soils compared to nearby soils. Hence it may be possible to
suggest that the higher percentage of Al2O3 may contribute to
the cementation of mound soils. Table II and Table III shows
the chemical composition of termite mounds (TM) and
Surrounding soil (Ssoil).
The XRD analysis indicated that the termite mounds
consisted dominantly of clay minerals with quartz and mica,
where as the corresponding soils without termites contained
more iron rich clay minerals. The analysis indicated that there
is no significant difference in clay minerals which is kaolinite
in all the samples.

J. Cellulase Enzyme Detection

Previous studies indicate the presence of cellulase enzyme
in the mounds. Activity of the enzyme was detected by
conducting cellulase assay in the mound soil samples at Center
for Tuber Crops Research Institute, Sreekaryam, Trivandrum.
Strength tests were conducted on lateritic and black cotton soil
with the addition of commercially available cellulase enzyme
which was derived out of Aspergillus Niger. Fig. 10 represents
the enzyme powder.

Figure 7. Percent plasticity index of soil

 TABLE I. PARTICLE SIZE OF MOUND AND SURROUNDING SOIL

Sample pair 1 Sample Pair 2 Sample pair 3 Sample Pair 4 Sample pair 5
Composition
TM 1 Ssoil 1 TM 2 Ssoil 2 TM 3 Ssoil 3 TM 4 Ssoil 4 TM 5 Ssoil 5

Gravel (%) 0 11.8 0 0.5 0 0.3 0 0.3 0 15.9

Coarse sand (%) 5.6 23.2 0.0 2.3 0.3 2.9 0.05 0.9 0.4 5.9
Medium sand
10.8 14.6 29.8 37.4 14.0 28.1 33.6 34.2 21.0 18.7
(%)
Fine sand (%) 7.7 10.6 29.7 32.3 20.8 24.7 33.9 50.2 33.5 27.3

Silt (%) 51.5 30.3 22.7 19.3 38.9 29.9 24.7 8.2 36.6 26.1

Clay (%) 24.3 9.6 17.8 8.3 25.9 14.1 7.8 6.2 8.5 6.1

TABLE II. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF MOUND AND TABLE III. TRACE ELEMENTS IN MOUND AND SURROUNDING
SURROUNDING SOIL SOIL

Trace Sample pair 1 Sample pair 2

Compositi Sample pair 1 Sample pair 2 Elements
on in µg/g TM 1 Ssoil 1 TM 2 Ssoil 2
TM 1 Ssoil 1 TM 2 Ssoil 2
V 243 286 78 73
SiO2 (%) 37.41 36.26 75.24 83.20
Cr 232 396 45 35
Al 2O3 (%) 24.74 21.59 17.52 10.25
Co 19 14 7 5
TiO2 (%) 1.62 1.35 1.21 1.25
Ni 166 94 16 ND
MnO (%) 0.10 0.08 0.01 0.02
Cu 59 31 17 13
Fe2O3 (%) 13.13 15.53 4.07 3.10
Zn 91 72 55 53
CaO (%) 0.47 0.53 0.51 0.61
Rb 44 28 30 20
MgO (%) 0.93 0.71 0.43 0.38
Sr 38 48 54 42
Na2O (%) 0.09 0.12 0.19 0.38
Zr 953 966 948 965
K2O (%) 0.73 0.64 0.54 0.49
Nb 24 24 24 24
P2O5 (%) 0.22 0.24 0.10 0.14
Ba 228 193 273 142
LOI (%) 20.33 22.72 NIL NIL
La 59 48 59 43
Total (%) 99.77 99.77 99.81 99.82
Ce 124 93 116 92

Pb 32 33 32 33
K. Properties of Cellulase Enzyme
Carboxymethyl Cellulase was derived out of Aspergillus ND- not detected
Niger. The enzyme is active at pH, 4-6 and optimum
temperature of 40ºC. 1g of enzyme can digest 100g of L. Properties of lateritic Soil
cellulose in 1 hour reaction time.
Properties of the lateritic soil are presented in Table III
M. Properties of Black Cotton Soil
Properties of the black cotton soil are presented in Table
IV.
N. Effect of Percentage of Cellulase Enzyme on the Strength
of Lateritic Soil
Unconfined compression (UCC) tests were carried out on
lateritic soil added with different percentage of cellulase (0,
0.5, 1 and 1.5) and also by giving different curing period (1-3
days) at 30% water content. Since the work has been done as a
Figure 10. Cellulase powder trial only 3 days curing has been taken. Load deformation plot
of soil was made for untreated and treated with different
percentages and curing periods respectively (Fig. 11-13).
It was observed that the strength of the soil increases with
increase of percentage of cellulase up to 1% and does not
shown a considerable increase with 1.5%. With increase in
curing periods the UCC value increased till 2 days and does not
shown a considerable increase in the third day. This is because
the substrate available may become reduced or nullified by the
enzyme at 1% and after 2 days. The cellulose present in the soil
is converted into cellobiose and glucose. The increase of
polysaccharide production within soil matrix was associated
with the significant increase in shear strength [1]. Fig. 14
shows the variation of UCC value (kN/m2) for different
cellulase content for different curing periods for lateritic soil.

TABLE IV. PROPERTIES OF LATERITIC SOIL

Natural water content (%) 20.5 Figure 11. Load - deformation curve of cellulase treated
lateritic soil (1 day curing)
Liquid limit (%) 40

Plastic limit (%) 25

Plasticity index (%) 15

Specific gravity, G 2.6

Gravel (%) 21.3

Coarse sand (%) 12.9

Medium sand (%) 16.4

Fine sand (%) 8.85

Silt (%) 15

Clay (%) 25.5

Colour Brown
Unconfined compressive strength
6.7
kN/m2
( water content %)
(30%) Figure 12. Load - deformation curve of cellulase treated
lateritic soil (2 day curing)
Optimum moisture content (%) 13

Maximum dry density (g/cc) 1.96

TABLE V. PROPERTIES OF BLACK COTTON SOIL

Natural water content (%) 54.1

Liquid limit (%) 61

Plastic limit (%) 34

Plasticity index (%) 27

Specific gravity, G 2.65

Gravel (%) 3.6

Coarse sand (%) 2.7

Medium sand (%) 6.6

Fine sand (%) 9.5

Silt (%) 15.5

Clay (%) 62 Figure 13. Load - deformation curve of cellulase treated

lateritic soil (3 day curing)
Colour Black

Unconfined compressive strength 3.9

kN/m2 (water content %) (54.1)
 Figure 14. Variation of UCC values with number of curing
days
O. Effect of Percentage of Cellulase Enzyme on the Strength
of Black Cotton Soil
UCC tests were carried out on black cotton soil added with
different percentage of CMCase (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2) and also
by giving different curing period (1-3 days) in natural water
content. . Load deformation plot of soil was made for untreated
and treated with different percentages and curing periods
respectively (Fig. 16-18).
Figure 16. Load - deformation curve of cellulase treated
black cotton soil (1 day curing)
Figure 17. Load - deformation curve of cellulase treated
black cotton soil (2 day curing)
Figure 18. Load - deformation curve of cellulase treated
black cotton soil (3 day curing)
It was observed that the strength of the soil increases with
increase of percentage of cellulase up to 1.5% and does not
shown a considerable increase with 2%. With increase in
curing periods the UCC value increased till 2 day and does not
shown a considerable increase in the third day. This is because
the substrate available may become reduced or nullified by the
enzyme at 1.5% and after 2 days. Fig. 19 shows the variation of
UCC value (kN/m2) for different cellulase content for different
curing periods for black cotton soil.
Figure 19. Variation of UCC values with number of curing
days
IV. CONCLUSIONS
The comparison between termite mound soil and nearby
soil was carried out in this study. The soil organic matter
decomposing microorganisms particularly soil fungi reduce the
cellulose compounds into polysaccharides and amino sugars.
These polysaccharides results in the soil particle aggregation.
From the studies, main conclusions are given below.
1. The liquid limit of mound soil is more than the
surrounding soils
2. The mound soil shows an increase in the plasticity index
value. This indicates the termite mounds are having more
cohesion and this makes the soil more stable.
3. The specific gravity values obtained are in the range of 2.1
to 2.42, indicating the presence of organic content in the
soils. This was confirmed by conducting organic content
 test and shows that organic content is in the range of 5%-
9%.
4. From the sieve analysis results, it can be concluded that for
the building up of mound, the termites are using more
percentage of medium sand compared to fine sand and
more percentage of silt content compared to clay content.
That is proper gradation of soil is considered by the
termites for the construction of termite mound, in order to
make the mound stable.
5. The main difference in percentage between the chemicals
present in mound and nearby soils is for Al2O3 and Fe2O3
and these chemicals might have given the
cementation/cohesive property to the mound soils.
6. The strength of the cellulase treated lateritic soil is 1.19
times more for soil treated with 1 % cellulase for 3 days
curing compared to untreated soil and does not gave
significant difference in strength with soil treated with
1.5% cellulase for 3 days. Percentage increase in strength
is 19.16%.
7. The strength of the cellulase treated black cotton soil is
1.22 times more for soil treated with 1.5 % cellulase for 3
days curing compared to untreated soil and does not gave
significant difference in strength with soil treated with 2 %
cellulase for 3 days. Percentage increase in strength is
21.37 %.

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