The Occurrence of Buried Viable Seeds in Soils at Different Elevations and on a Salt Marsh

Abstract

Samples of soil were examined for their buried viable seed content in relation to the surface vegetation at successive elevations on 2 mts. in Wales. As the elevations increased, the quantities of some spp. became less in the surface vegetation, and their amts. of buried viable seed became correspondingly less in the soil; other spp. which were abundant in the herbage throughout the slopes showed little decline in their buried seed quantities, except at the highest elevations. The limit in elevation for certain spp. was reached early in the series, both in regard to buried seed and surface vegetation. There were indications that certain spp. rely chiefly upon vegetative means for their perpetuation, especially at the highest elevations sampled[long dash]2400 and 2600 ft. The data also gave evidence of the large numbers of buried viable seeds to be found in wet soils. The buried viable seed content of soils from a salt marsh showed that of the spp. composing the various associations, few were outstanding in having comparatively abundant viable seeds in the soil. The evidence indicated that vegetative means are extensively used by certain species for perpetuation: some species dominant in the surface vegetation had comparatively few buried seeds, other spp. had many. The data from soil in proximity to the river differed markedly from those of soil from the landward side of the section investigated.