EFFECTS OF TILLAGE AND STUBBLE RESIDUE TREATMENTS ON TERMITE ACTIVITYIN 2 CENTRAL QUEENSLAND VERTOSOLS

The effects of tillage and stubble residue management practices on the activity and composition of the termite fauna of some central Queensl and Vertosols has been examined, using a combination of spade sampling , baiting and deep coring techniques. Uncultivated Vertisols , previou sly thought to be devoid of termites, are now known to support at leas t five species of subterranean termites. They are Amitermes obtusidens Mjoberg, A. agrilus Gay, Microcerotermes serratus (Froggatt), Heterot ermes paradoxus (Froggatt) and Termes sp. Clearing and cultivation for dryland cropping virtually eliminated termites from these soils. The adoption of zero till and stubble retention practices however, resulte d in the re-appearance of subterranean termites. The implications of i ncreased termite activity in cropping soils are also discussed.