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Ants and termites increase crop yield in a dry climate

Author

Listed:
  • Theodore A. Evans

    (CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Clunies Ross Street)

  • Tracy Z. Dawes

    (CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Vandelin Drive)

  • Philip R. Ward

    (CSIRO Plant Industry, Underwood Avenue)

  • Nathan Lo

    (Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney)

Abstract

Agricultural intensification has increased crop yields, but at high economic and environmental cost. Harnessing ecosystem services of naturally occurring organisms is a cheaper but under-appreciated approach, because the functional roles of organisms are not linked to crop yields, especially outside the northern temperate zone. Ecosystem services in soil come from earthworms in these cooler and wetter latitudes; what may fulfill their functional role in agriculture in warmer and drier habitats, where they are absent, is unproven. Here we show in a field experiment that ants and termites increase wheat yield by 36% from increased soil water infiltration due to their tunnels and improved soil nitrogen. Our results suggest that ants and termites have similar functional roles to earthworms, and that they may provide valuable ecosystem services in dryland agriculture, which may become increasingly important for agricultural sustainability in arid climates.

Suggested Citation

  • Theodore A. Evans & Tracy Z. Dawes & Philip R. Ward & Nathan Lo, 2011. "Ants and termites increase crop yield in a dry climate," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 2(1), pages 1-7, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:2:y:2011:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1257
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1257
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    Cited by:

    1. Kafula Chisanga & Ernest Mbega & Patrick Alois Ndakidemi, 2019. "Socio-Economic Factors for Anthill Soil Utilization by Smallholder Farmers in Zambia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Fátima Gonçalves & Cristina Carlos & Luís Crespo & Vera Zina & Amália Oliveira & Juliana Salvação & José Alberto Pereira & Laura Torres, 2021. "Soil Arthropods in the Douro Demarcated Region Vineyards: General Characteristics and Ecosystem Services Provided," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-35, July.
    3. Qian Tang & Jiping Li & Tao Tang & Pengcheng Liao & Danmei Wang, 2022. "Construction of a Forest Ecological Network Based on the Forest Ecological Suitability Index and the Morphological Spatial Pattern Method: A Case Study of Jindong Forest Farm in Hunan Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-14, March.
    4. Li Ma & Ming’an Shao & Tongchuan Li, 2020. "Characteristics of Soil Moisture and Evaporation under the Activities of Earthworms in Typical Anthrosols in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-11, August.
    5. Steven J. Fonte & Marian Hsieh & Nathaniel D. Mueller, 2023. "Earthworms contribute significantly to global food production," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-5, December.
    6. Thomas W. Culliney, 2013. "Role of Arthropods in Maintaining Soil Fertility," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 3(4), pages 1-31, September.

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