Role of Soil and Water Conservation Terraces in Integrated Termite Management

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted in randomized block design in 2012 and 2013 on
the role of soil and water conservation terraces on managing Kutcrotennes and
Microtermes pest species o f termite using wooden baits between adjacent terraces in
Ghimbi district o f Western Ethiopia. The zero gradient terraces range from 5 m to 20
m in length. Some o f the terraces are said to be closed when the ends o f adjacent
terraces were connected by vertical right and left terraces. Ten wooden baits o f 10
cm diameter had been inserted in the holes dug in the ground for this purposes
between each of the terraces that was inspected by taking out five o f the baits
randomly at three months intervals. Terraces ionger than 15 m protected termite
damage and damage severity to the baits starting from six months after application o f
the treatments and significantly differed from the rest o f the treatments. In
conclusion, soil and water conservation terraces should be considered as one
component of integrated termite management especially in areas where multiple
species are involved in causing damage. Further investigation is also required on
lengths and widths o f level terraces as well as on the duration o f the effectiveness of
the terraces.