Soil Seed Bank of Acacia nilotica In Central Sudan

Abstract

This study was conducted in central Sudan (Gezira and Khartoum States). Two dominant Acacia nilotica (Sunt) forests were selected. Mattama forest was selected to represent Gizera State; this forest was located along the Blue Nile east ElKamlin. In Khartoum State Mogran forest was selected east the White Nile near the junction of the two Niles. The objective of this study was to identify the soil seed bank of Acacia nilotica and its potentiality in the natural regeneration of Sunt forests. Soil samples were taken from (0-5 and 5-15) cm depths respectively in an area 1m×1m. (Replicated 4 times for each forest and forest type) The seeds collected from the soil seed bank were counted for soil seed bank calculation per unit area and categorized into sound, infected and decayed. Then the seeds were sown in germination room of the National Tree Seed Centre (NTSC) laboratory. The seeds were divided into two fractions, one was sown without treatment and the other was treated with Electric Burner (EB) to break seed dormancy and to explore the seeds viability and its power to germinate. The results showed that the soil seed bank is rich in the two forests and in all forest types, Mattama forest have bigger seed bank. Gerif soil in the two forests is richer in seeds than Mayaa and Kerib soil. (0-5) cm depths contain more than (5-15) cm depth. The study showed that germination percentage of seeds that were collected from Mattama forest was higher than those collected from Mogran forest, furthermore, it was noticed that the germination percentage of seeds which were collected from Gerifs of the two forests was higher than that collected from Mayaa which in turn was higher than that collected from Kerib. Finally the germination percentage of seeds collected from the two forests was high and enough to regenerate the forests. The study recommend to give chance the regeneration of Sunt forests from sustainable and naturally available soil seed bank, which was found sufficient to regenerate the forest, because it is cheap and reduces the efforts of afforestation.