Buried seeds in arable soils in Scotland

Abstract

Summary:Soil from arable areas in Scotland was examined macroscopically for seeds. In terms of the percentage of sites at which they were recorded, Chenopodium album L. (33%), Poa annua L. (22%), Polygonum aviculare L. (41%), Polygonum persicaria L. (39%), Spergula arvensis L. (42%) and Stellaria media (L.) Vill. (44%) were the most common species found. They accounted for 78% of the seeds recovered. There were eighty different species found over the 5 years of the survey. Estimated total weed populations (m−2) ranged from nil to 170000 with an average of 16000 m−2 in the top 20 cm of soil.