Depletion of viable seeds of Betulapubescens and Betulaverrucosa sown onto some north Swedish forest soils

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Abstract
Seeds of Betulapubescens Ehrh. and Betulaverrucosa Ehrh. were sown onto the forest floor at sites of different vegetation types in mature north Swedish coniferous forests. Subsamples of the seeded soil were taken each spring and fall and analysed for viable seeds. During the 1st year after seeding, the population of viable birch seeds in the soil declined to approximately 6% of the original. During the 2nd year, the rate of depletion was much smaller and the population of viable seeds decreased to approximately 3% of the original. Part of the material was followed over 3 years and the rate of decline was similar during the 3rd year to that during the 2nd year. There were no significant differences when comparing the proportion of seeds remaining viable in different vegetation types, nor were there any significant differences when comparing the two species. It is inferred that seeds produced in a forest stand and stored in the soil at the time of clear-cutting could give rise to Betula seedlings. These results indicate that the risk would be strongly reduced if seed-producing birch trees are removed a few years ahead of clear-cutting, when birch regeneration is undesirable.

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