Effect of Surface Fire-treated on Soil Effective Seed Bank of Shrub-grass Land in Karst Desertification Area, Center Guizhou Province

PurposeTaking a karst stone desert shrub-grass land in central Guizhou Province, China, as object, effects of fire-treated on the soil effective seed bank was studied to provide a theoretical basis for the evaluation of vegetation restoration potential.

MethodSeed germination in laboratory method was used to study changes of the soil effective seed bank in 0-5 cm and 5-10 cm soil layers before and after fire-treated in nine sample plots.

ResultsFire-treated increased species density and seed density of shrub in different soil layers, but decreased species density of herb, meanwhile the species similarity coefficient (SØrensen) between 0-5 cm and 5-10 cm soil layers decreased. Fire-treated increased the number of plant families and genera with decreased the proportion of single species family, along with changed the species ordination structure for seed germination number, and herbaceous plants dominated in this community. After fire-treated, Margalef index and Pielou index decreased, together with Simpson index and Shannon-Wiener index increased in 0-5 cm soil layer, accompanied by the values of Margalef index, Simpson index, Pielou index and Shannon-Wiener index decreased in 5-10 cm soil layer.

ConclusionFire-treated increased the whole seeds germination amount of the soil effective seed bank, along with species density and seeds density of shrub, decreasing the species density of herb at a short period in the karst stone desert shrub-grass land. The germination potential of the soil effective seed bank after fire-treated can be used to restore vegetation in a natural way.