Author(s):

NK Sinha, Priyabrata Santra and P Raja

Abstract: Soil seed bank plays a vital role in long term survival of an individual species, as well as plant communities in all agro-ecosystem of the world. In a case study over Thar desert, it was observed that a total number of seed per m² at fully protected rangeland site was significantly higher than controlled and open grazing sites for all four soils layers: 0-3 cm, 3-6 cm, 6-9 cm, and 9-12 cm. A total of sixteen plant species was identified (major species; Lasiurus sindicus, Cenchrus biflorus, Cenchrus ciliaris, Cenchrus setigerus, Panicum antidotale) in the collected samples irrespective of the type of rangelands, soil depth, and the time period of observation. Amount of seed stock (number/m²) in collected soil samples during the month of May was found significantly higher (30.6 % for fully protected; 34.5% for controlled and 44.5 % for open grazing) than rest of the periods. Soil environmental status in the different profile viz., 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, 20-30 cm and 30-40 cm in soil seed study area, it was found that an average organic carbon content of the profile was observed higher in the bottom layer of the soil (1.80 g kg^-1). Water retention both at 1/3 bar and 15 bar increased with increase in soil depth. Steady state infiltration rate was observed as 5.11 mm min^-1. Regarding vegetation coverage, it was observed that the seasonal vegetation coverage was 15.2% in fully protected, 14.6% in controlled grazing and 8.2% in open grazing rangeland of Indian arid ecosystem. Therefore, soil seed bank study is an indicative major of the future vegetation in any agro-ecosystem.

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