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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #106315
Title: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOIL SEED RESERVOIR AND ABOVEGROUND VEGETATION IN GRAZED PASTURES

Author
item Sanderson, Matt
item Tracy, Benjamin

Submitted to: American Forage and Grassland Council Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: Sanderson, M.A., Tracy, B.F. 1999. Relationship between soil seed reservoir and aboveground vegetation in grazed pastures. American Forage and Grassland Council Conference Proceedings. p. 70.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The species composition of the soil seed reservoir can have significant effects on community succession in grazinglands through filling of sward gaps. We determined the soil seed reservoir and composition of aboveground vegetation in 36 pastures on 9 farms in Pennsylvania, New York, and Vermont. All farms were dairies that used management intensive grazing. Species composition of the seed bank and the aboveground vegetation was compared. The mean seedling density averaged for all farms was 2054/m2. Germinable seed was dominated by annual and perennial forbs. Poa spp. were the dominant grasses found in soil seed samples. Of the 54 species identified in samples from all farms, only 3 species (bluegrass, white clover, and dandelion) were commonly found in the aboveground vegetation.