Soil seed bank distribution and restoration potential in the vegetation of Buska Mountain range, Hamar district, southwestern Ethiopia. Issue 11 (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bekele, Melese; Demissew, Sebsebe; Bekele, Tamrat; Woldeyes, Feleke
• Is Part Of: Heliyon. Volume 8:Issue 11(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Buska mountain range -- Hamar -- Soil seed bank -- Restoration -- Southwestern Ethiopia; Research -- Periodicals; Medical sciences -- Periodicals; Natural history -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Periodicals; Physical sciences -- Periodicals; 507.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11244
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2405-8440

Abstract

Abstract: The seed banks are vital components for the reestablishment of degraded lands since they are used to predict the future coverage of vegetation and allow for the implementation of appropriate conservation measures in a particular area. The study was conducted in the Buska Mountains of the Hamar area in south-western Ethiopia and determined the composition, density and vertical distribution of soil seed banks under various land-use systems and soil layers. A total of 96 soil samples were involved in the study; four land-use types (grassland, forest, scrub and bare ground). Three distinct soil layers from each plot (0–3 cm, 3–6 cm, 6–9 cm depths) were sampled. Jaccard's Similarity Coefficient was applied to evaluate the correspondence between different land-use types and soil layers. One-way ANOVA was used to compute species density and composition respectively within land-use systems along with the seed bank and above ground vegetation. Fifty six (56) species within 27 plant families and 50 genera were recorded. Twenty percent of the species was contributed by Asteraceae followed by Poaceae (16%). Herbaceous growth forms were the most dominant in the area, contributing about 78.6%. The total seedling density in the study plots was 8171 seedlings/m 2 . Jaccard's Similarity Coefficient is relatively higher (0.52) between grassland and scrub, while the forest and bare land had the least amount of similarity (0.22). There was seen a higher similarity of species between the first and second soil layers and a decreasing density with soil depth. A substantial difference between the aboveground species and seed bank was recorded in the area. The lower resemblance between the standing vegetation and the seed bank infers a lower overall restoration potential and suggests other alternative regeneration mechanisms such as seedling plantation of priority indigenous plant species and avoiding anthropogenic disturbances. Highlights: Seed banks play an important role in ecosystem resilience serving as a reservoir of regeneration potential. Based on the findings of this study, the new plant recruitments could be predicted. It produced a suggestion on the restoration, biological variety conservation and vegetation succession for the maintenance of biodiversity in arid climatic regions. In view of the ever-increasing effects of climate change in rangelands in dry regions, like ours, the study's findings could be an invaluable source of awareness. Abstract : Buska mountain range; Hamar; Soil seed bank; Restoration; Southwestern Ethiopia.