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Edinburg Va.

Has anyone used anthill soil?

11/19/2007 10:16:09 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Nope. Interesting though. No idea what ants add to soil as a waste byproduct or by whatever means. I did find a couple articles. It seems there are papers out there for anything. I thought for sure I wouldn't find anything on this.

The effect of two ant species Lasius niger and Lasius flavus on soil properties in two contrasting habitats
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VR7-4KKNM01-1&_user=10&_coverDate=11%2F30%2F2006&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=d5f01f0c60297e95d896907cf1ce84f2

Ant-induced soil modification and its effect on plant below-ground biomass
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B7CW5-4FD9T0P-3&_user=10&_coverDate=03%2F31%2F2005&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=d5247cd6816a1e6e49df5aeb9dfda052

Interesting points (though may depend on ant species, soil tpye, etc)

While we found increased concentrations of available P and K in the nests, concentrations of total C, total N, Ca2+ and Mg2+ were lower there. We propose that differences found between the soil of nests and control plots are entirely a product of ant activity during mound occupancy and not due to initial soil differences during nest establishment. This was confirmed by the comparison of occupied and abandoned nests in which the soil fertility of abandoned nests was similar to conditions in the surrounding soil.

11/19/2007 12:10:48 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Along with the modification of soil chemistry, we recorded changes in soil physical properties and the vertical distribution of nutrients

Root biomass followed the vertical pattern observed with nutrients: in control plots, most roots were concentrated in the uppermost layer (0–3 cm), whereas they were evenly distributed along the vertical gradient in the nests

Moreover, the result with lower nest moisture and lower decomposition rate in ant mounds indicates that soil moisture should be the next important factor limiting soil processes inside ant mounds.

11/19/2007 12:10:51 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

I guess a soil test would be the best way to go.

11/19/2007 12:11:53 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

Bad memories of blowing up ant hills with firecrackers, (shrapnal in for of ants really smarts.)

I would be interested in hearing the results for next yr.

11/19/2007 5:17:16 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Sorry for the hijack...CCW...email me at wsmpeace@aol.com if you would...I will be in Boulder for the Christmas holiday...and would like to meet you...also have a trip to meet Biz, and Wiz planned. Peace, Wayne

11/19/2007 8:32:39 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I wouldn't do anything that might attract ants. I have had pumpkin plants killed by yellow ants. The dig in at the stump and eat the roots off completely.

11/20/2007 9:02:05 AM