Seasonal Variations in the Soil Seed Bank of the Wadi (Valley) Al-Sahel Al-Gharbi (Al-Butnan Plateau - Marmarica) Northeast Libya

Abstract

     This study examined the seed bank in the  (Valley) Al-Sahel Al-Gharbi area, located on the Al-Butnan plateau in northeastern Libya. Conducted between 2021 and 2022, the area was divided into six main sites based on elevation and vegetation cover distribution. From these sites, four individual soil samples were taken from each location, totaling 96 samples throughout the four seasons. The study aimed to investigate the seasonal differences in seed density and viability, as well as to identify the average number of seeds of legume species in the area. The total number of seeds was 19,150 seeds/m2, while the average seed density was approximately 797.91 seeds/m2, and seed viability was 72.49%. The highest average seed density was recorded in autumn with 1,083.3 seeds/m2, and the lowest in spring with 533.33 seeds/m2. The highest seed viability rate was observed in autumn at 83.07%, and the lowest in spring at 59.53%. There were significant differences in seed density (p < 0.04) and very significant differences in seed viability (p < 0.000001). The highest average of Fabaceae seeds was in winter with 83.33 seeds/m2, and the lowest in spring with 6.25 seeds/m2., It was observed that the area has a high seed bank and an increase in seed density, possibly due to the dominance of annual species because of the climate and the intensity of human activities in the area.