Soil seed bank and regeneration of a Calluna vulgaris community after forest clearing

After tree cutting of a margin of a deciduous forest (Querceto petraeae-Betuletum) on acid gravel deposits in South-Limburg, The Netherlands, a Calluna vulgaris community re-established as a result of germination from the soil seed bank. The greater part of the extensive seed bank of Calluna probably originated from heathland vegetation, which was present on the site until half a century ago. The number of viable seeds of Calluna present in the soil samples varied tremendously in time and space. The maximal density found was c. 300 seeds per dm2 to a depth of 20 cm. From a viewpoint of nature preservation, it is important to estimate the feasibility of re-creating former plant communities based upon the seed bank in the soil.