Journal
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Volume 57, Issue -, Pages 916-918Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2012.11.005
Keywords
Ant nests; Clay content; Aluminum saturation; Potassium
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Funding
- Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia-FAPESB
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e tecnologico-CNPq
- AB-3 Consultores e Auditores Ambientais Ltda
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Based on recent papers studying the effect of leaf-cutting ants on soils, we hypothesized that Atta robusta nests modify chemical properties in oligotrophic Restinga soils. We tested if the nests (i) increase mineral nutrients, organic matter, cationic exchangeable capacity, pH, and (ii) decrease aluminum saturation. Such soil variables were determined at three depths from both active A. robusta nests and control sites. Only K concentration was greater in nests but the other parameters were not significantly modified. The exception was aluminum saturation which was significantly lower in sampled nests. Low clay content is suggested as main explanation which nullifies the effects of nests. Furthermore, complexation of aluminum with organic acids from decomposition may explain its reduced saturation. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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