Soil seed bank

In the subproject, the soil seed bank potentials and the mechanisms for their activation are to be investigated and recorded. Soil seed banks are an important component in the recolonisation of disturbed sites and calamity areas in forests. Studies on the controlled activation of the soil seed bank in during a silvicultural management measure are not yet known. Therefore, the project aims to record the soil seed bank potential of the ground vegetation, the shrub and tree species on the disturbed sites and to investigate the possibilities of activating the soil seed bank and evaluating the establishment and development potential after controlled activation. The species inventory and persistence of seeds in the soil will be recorded taking into account the presence of seed sources in the soil depths and at sampling times.

Collaborators: Dr Katharina Tiebel (TU Dresden)External link