introduction of seed accumulation index as new approach in soil seed bank classification

the purpose of this study was the introduction of seed accumulation index as a new approach in the evaluation of soil seed bank consistency in the populus caspica in noor reserved forest park. sampling were made above ground vegetation at peak vegetation cover during june 2010 by systematic- selective method. soil samples were collected during late june, late november and early february by hammering a hollow metal frame 400 cm2 into two depths with 4 replicate in each sample plot and the species composition of seed bank was determined using seedling emergence method. results showed that 42.2% of the plants species were classified in transient soil seed bank and only 57.8% species, which were mainly composed of early successional species, were able to produce persistent seed bank. in this case, only 3 tree species including ficus carica, morus alba and alnus glutinosa were able to produce persistent soil seed bank. chi- square goodness of fit test (ï‡2= 60.2) in reviewing the independence of sai index and seed depth distribution model as the two methods of seed bank classification showed that the results of these two methods were not independent and they were applicable together with 99% probability. in this case, conformity and correlation between the two mentioned methods were assessed 85.2% based upon kappa index and spearman correlation coefficient. therefore, it was concluded that seed accumulation index, which namely sai, could be used as a new approach in soil seed bank classification of forest habitats.