A study was done to study physical and chemical characteristics of soil salt licks used by wild animals in Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda. Salt licks were enriched with clay, sodium and had high pH. Salt licks in LMNP had more sodium, calcium and magnesium so these elements were likely to be deficient in animal diets while potassium, phosphorous, copper, iron, zinc and manganese were unlikely to be deficient. Toxicity due to micronutrient overload was unlikely since copper, zinc and manganese occurred at low levels. Iron occurs at relatively high concentrations and was not toxic. The vertical pans had high concentration of calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorous and iron at one metre below top soil. Potassium, copper, zinc and manganese were found to be at the same concentration with that at one metre. There was no significant difference in the pH at both soil depths but percentage clay was higher one metre below top soil than at two metres below top soil. The concentration of elements one metre below top soil were in the following order: Ca > Na > Mg > Fe > P. Calcium was found to be more limiting and phosphorous less limiting. Termites created salt lick areas in LMNP. Termites enriched mound soils with mostly calcium and magnesium, although sodium, potassium and phosphorous could also be enriched. It was also shown that termite mound soils were rich in clay and fine silt and also had high pHs.
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