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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2021, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (11): 13-28.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2020410

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The characteristics of the soil seed bank in Wuhai and surrounding areas and the relationship with vegetation and soil factors

Chao LUO1(), Xiao-ping GUO1(), Chang-dong FENG1, Jin-peng YE2, Dong-ming XUE1   

  1. 1.College of Soil and Water Conservation,Beijing Forestry University,Beijing 100083,China
    2.China Energy Engineering Group,Yunnan Electric Power Design Institute Co. ,Ltd,Kunming 650051,China
  • Received:2020-09-17 Revised:2020-10-19 Online:2021-10-19 Published:2021-10-19
  • Contact: Xiao-ping GUO

Abstract:

The soil seed bank is the driver of natural vegetation renewal and restoration and is important for ecological restoration in arid desert areas. The aim of our study was to explore the characteristics of the soil seed bank and its relationship with aboveground vegetation and soil factors in arid desert areas. In this research, the study area was Wuhai City, Inner Mongolia, and its surrounding districts and 12 typical habitats and vegetation types within the study area were selected based on factors such as topography, soil, vegetation and degree of disturbance. The characteristics of the soil seed bank and its relationship with aboveground vegetation and soil factors were evaluated based on botanical investigation, persistent and transient soil seed bank sampling in different seasons, germination experiments and analysis of soil physical and chemical properties. It was found that: 1) The average seed bank density in study area was 217-1547 seeds·m-2, most of which were perennial herbs. The seed density decreased with increase in soil depth. The persistent soil seed bank accounted for 17.34%-64.22% of the total seed bank density. In habitats of intermediate or low disturbance, its proportion was typically more than 40%. 2) The soil seed banks in different habitats and vegetation types differed significantly, while the soil seed banks of adjacent geographical environments were similar. However, the seed bank density and species diversity of intermediate disturbance areas were higher than perimeter zones of low disturbance. 3) The similarity between the soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation in the Xinxing mining area was relatively high, while the composition and structure of the seed bank and vegetation in other areas were quite different. 4) Soil seed bank species showed different clustering in different soil environments. Soil factors only partly explained (typically 30%-40% of data variation) the soil seed bank variation. Soil organic matter and silt content were the most important soil factors affecting the persistent soil seed bank for the 0-5 cm, while clay content and gravel content were also important for the on 5-10 cm soil depth. By contrast, soil total phosphorus and clay contents were the main factors affecting the transient soil seed bank for the 0-5 cm soil depth, while organic matter content and soil bulk density were also important in the 5-10 cm depth. The research provides data on the composition of the topsoil seed bank to support vegetation restoration programs in the Wuhai region.

Key words: arid desert areas, habitat conditions, soil seed bank, aboveground vegetation, soil factors