Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32443902›Full record

ArticlePlants (Basel, Switzerland)2020

Prospects of Using Termite Mound Soil OrganicAmendment for Enhancing Soil Nutrition inSouthern Africa.

Kafula Chisanga, Ernest R Mbega, Patrick A Ndakidemi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Plants (Basel, Switzerland), 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Kafula ChisangaDepartment of Sustainable Agriculture, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology,P.O. Box 447, Arusha 23311, Tanzania.
Ernest R MbegaDepartment of Sustainable Agriculture, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology,P.O. Box 447, Arusha 23311, Tanzania.
Patrick A NdakidemiDepartment of Sustainable Agriculture, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology,P.O. Box 447, Arusha 23311, Tanzania.

Funding

Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology 5799 -TZ
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Termite mound soils are reportedly utilized as an alternative to NPK fertilizers by cashconstrained smallholder farmers in some parts of Southern Africa. However, there is limitedknowledge regarding their mineral nutritional value. The intention of this work was therefore toinvestigate the macro and micronutrient composition of different sections of the termite mounds;top, base and neighboring areas. The study approach involved physical and chemical analysis of 36sites across Pemba and Choma districts in Southern Zambia through collection of soil samples intriplicate at 0-20 cm depth, using a soil auger. Findings revealed that the soil pH had elevatedlevels in the base segments of the termite mounds compared with the top and the neighbouringsoils. However, elevated N, P and K levels were recorded in the top sections with significantdifferences (P < 0.05) in clay and silt composition observed. Additionally, metallic micronutrients,Cu and Zn were also found to be elevated in termite mounds in contrast to surrounding soils. Weconcluded that top termite mound soil should be considered as part of an integrated nutrientmanagement strategy by financially challenged smallholder farmers cultivating in light texturedsoils of southern Africa.

Indexed as

soil conditionersoil fertilitysoil nutrient bioavailabilitysoil pHsoil physical and chemical properties

Identifiers

PMID32443902
PMCPMC7284692

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.