Native seed, soil and atmosphere respond to boreal forest topsoil (LFH) storage

What is it about?

The research investigates the impact of stockpiling methods on native plant seed viability and soil chemistry in boreal forest topsoil. The unique research contribution lies in helping identify the mechanisms responsible for seed loss in large versus small stockpiles, emphasizing the importance of stockpile size in seed preservation and reclamation. It highlights how seed viability decreases rapidly at depths below 1 meter in stockpiles, and that negative consequences are more pronounced in larger stockpiles. In large stockpiles, seeds are predominantly killed by anaerobic conditions caused by limited oxygen availability at greater depths; in small stockpiles, seeds lose viability mainly due to aerobic conditions that promote in-situ germination and seed decay. Species with hard seed coats or physical dormancy, such as Geranium bicknellii and Dracocephalum parviflorum, tend to resist the deleterious effects of stockpiling, while other species show a significant decline in seed viability. Stockpiles designed to maximize surface area are more effective at retaining seed viability due to their larger surface area relative to volume, which helps minimize development of anaerobic soil conditions in deeper layers.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This understanding of seed viability in topsoil stockpiles provides valuable insights for reclamation, guiding development of more effective strategies, such as direct placement, for revegetation and ecosystem restoration.