Soil seed bank composition and distribution on eroded slopes in the hill‐gully Loess Plateau region (China): influence on natural vegetation colonization

摘要: On the Chinese Loess Plateau, serious slope and gully erosion have caused a decrease in soil water capacity fertility, which has resulted vegetation degradation reduction agricultural productivity. Great efforts been made to restore control erosion, but efficiency of artificial revegetation is not satisfactory. Natural an alternative. However, while seed banks are essential source for natural revegetation, their composition distribution on eroded slopes remains unknown. In addition, whether or loss during limits colonization also this work, bank were studied three situations. Specifically, main microsites selected as sampling plots: fish-scale pits, deposited micro-topography; under tussocks, trap microsites; open areas, areas. Soil samples collected at depths 0-2 cm, 2-5 cm 5-10 cm. The was identified using germination experiments, total 34 species identified. dominant annual/biennial herbs with average proportion more than 90% density reaching 19,000 seeds m(-2). pioneer Artemisia scoparia especially abundant. later successional species, such Lespedeza davurica, giraldii, gmelinii, Stipa bungeana Bothriochloa ischcemum, present that ranged from 38 1355 Compared pits retained higher seeds, tussocks larger number species. there no study indicates that, these slopes, key factor limiting vegetation. Copyright (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.