Assessment of Termite mound Additive on Soil Physical Characteristics

Abstract

This study was performed to assess termite mound inherent property as additive for

improvement of soil strength in Nigeria. The mound on the Rhodic Acrisol was sampled from

top at 0 - 60 cm, 60 - 120 cm and 120 - 180 cm intervals through a vertical section. For the

Rhodic Acrisol, three samples were sampled from depth at 0 – 60 cm, 60 – 120 cm and 120 –

180 cm intervals through a vertical section.Termite mound sample was mixed with the two  

soil samples separately, that is, termite mound and clayey soil in one part and termite mound

and laterite soil in another part. Twenty trials experiment were conducted on the soils during

compact test for soil mix ranging from 0 to 100 % at interval of 5 %.  The optimum moisture

content obtained from the compaction test was used to carry out compressive strength test.

The Triaxial machine model HM -5020 was used for determination of the compressive

strength. The soil samples were examined in accordance with the American Public Health

Association. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and one way ANOVA. The

findings indicated that:  termite mound was classified as sandy clay loam soil while the

laterite soil was sandy loam; the termite mound has the highest maximum dry density and

compressive strength than other two soil samples; increases in termite mound ratio has is

significant increase in maximum dry density and little effect on optimum moisture content for

both soil samples; termite mound as an additive has much more effective in laterite soil than

clay soil in term of compressive strength and maximum dry density; the compressive strength

of the laterite almost doubled that of the clay soil at the same termite ratio. Termite is

recommended as an additive for laterite soil for building construction only.