Soil seed bank evaluation along a degradation gradient in arid rangelands of the Somali region, eastern Ethiopia
The potential and regeneration capacity of soil seed banks in three eastern Ethiopian rangeland ecosystems (Asbuli grassland or arid grassland, Aydora open savanna or arid bush/grassland and Hurso closed savanna or arid bush land) were determined over a degradation gradient. Soil samples from 0.09m² blocks (100mm deep) were spread evenly in plastic containers in the greenhouse and studied over a 1-year period. The aboveground species composition was also compared. Sampling was from rangelands in excellent, good, moderate and poor conditions for each ecosystem.