We analyzed the composition and spatial variations of soil seed banks of plant species and densities of soil seed banks in Prosopis juliflora invaded and noninvaded grasslands. Soil samples were collected from soil layers of 0 to 3, 3 to 6, and 6 to 9 cm. The highest density of 1,037 ± 633 seedlings/m2 was recovered from a soil depth of 3 to 6 cm. But, the lowest density of 461 ± 315 seedlings/m2 was recovered from the depth of 0 to 3 cm. In noninvaded grasslands, the lowest density of 94 ± 32 seedlings/m2 was germinated in the soil depth of 0 to 3 cm. In Prosopis juliflora grasslands at the 3 to 6 cm, the density was 519 ± 257 seedlings/m2, but 1,484 ± 1,144 seedlings/m2 was in the noninvaded grasslands at the depth of 3 to 6 cm. Our findings have implications for recovery of rangelands after disturbances. The Rangelands archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information.
Practical, non-technical peer-reviewed articles published by the Society for Range Management. Access articles on a rolling-window basis from vol 1, 1979 up to 3 years from the current year. More recent content is available by subscription from SRM.