Classification of Soils Modified by Termite Activity in Tropical Moist Semideciduous Forests of West Africa

Abstract

In the tropical moist semideciduous forests of West Africa, termites are an important soil forming factor. They transport soil material from the subsoil up into the dead wood at the forest floor. When the dead wood totally decomposes, the soil that is left behind is a new termite soil layer. This layer can be more than 30 cm thick and consists of bulk material from the subsoil but without gravels. Below the termite soil layer, a gravelly layer develops as the fine earth is transported to the soil surface. We discuss the genesis of the termite soil layer, its physical and chemical composition, and propose how to describe and classify this type of soil according to the USDA‐NRCS soil taxonomy system.