Long-term active restoration of degraded grasslands enhances vegetation resilience by altering the soil seed bank

Abstract Long-term active restoration is often employed to restore degraded grasslands. The establishment of a viable soil seed bank the key successful restoration, as it enhances resilience vegetation. However, little known how affects vegetation following long-term We determined abundance and species composition properties intact, degraded, (>10 years) actively restored grasslands on Tibetan plateau (3900–4200 m a.s.l.). plant-soil-seed quality index structural equation modelling (SEM) were used assess effect resilience. After by sowing seeds native plant species, densities transient persistent increased 5%, but richness (number species) decreased 25% when compared with This occurred largely result an increase in grass decrease forb seeds. Persistent grasses play important role productivity grasslands, while density serves indicator A combination community density. Here, we show for first time that altering bank. high sown Gramineae low forbs