Seed banks in pastures of Central Amazonian Region

Abstract

This study investigated the seed bank of pastures in disturbed areas in Amazonia Central. In four pastures, 20 samples of 15 x 15 cm at 0 to 5 cm depth and six samples in a depths of 5 to 10 and 10 to 30 cm. For counting and seed identification, the seedling emergence method in a green house was used. Significant differences in seed densities were observed among the four pastures, varying from 304 to 6153 seeds per m², at 0 to 5 cm depth, showing high variation among the areas. The number of species varied from 17 to 27 at the superficial layer. The seed banks contained mainly invasive herbs and pioneer species characteristic of disturbed areas. The succession plant which will develop require a longer time interval to present strata shrubs / trees with utmost importance and the forest will probably be much less heterogeneous than the original.