Author(s)

Chauvelin Douh^1,2*, Christian Moussoumbou¹, Belvina Chardène Mabengo¹, Larisa Mbouchi Malonga¹, Gilbert Nsongola³, Tite Miafouna¹, Aimé Judicaël Mahoua¹, Saint Fédriche Ndzaï¹, Félix Koubouana¹

¹Laboratory of Geomatics and Applied Tropical Ecology (LGETA), Superior National School of Agronomy and Forestry (ENSAF), Marien N’GOUABI University, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
²National Forestry Research Institute (IRF), Department of Forest Ecology, Scientific City of Brazzaville, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
³Institute of Research in Exact and Natural Sciences (IRSEN), Scientific City of Brazzaville, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

The soil seed bank is an important source of restoration and resilience of disturbed ecosystems. This study evaluates the regeneration potential through the soil seed bank of the shrub savannas of Nguela and Mbe in order to predict the eventual dynamics. Three plots of 0.25 ha subdivided into four sub-plots of 0.015 ha have been installed in each savannah. In total, 48 samples of each savannah, i.e. 96 samples of both savannas, have been taken from the soil layers, 0 - 5 cm, 5 - 10 cm, 10 - 15 cm and 15 - 20 cm. Species diversity and abundance of the soil seed bank have been assessed after germination. The results reveal 167 seedlings belonging to 23 species in the Mbe savannah and 144 seedlings belonging to 14 species in the Nguela savannah. The total densities of the germinated seeds were respectively 463.63 seeds/m² and 400 seeds/m². Nevertheless, the 20 cm deep layers have illustrated themselves compared to the superficial layers with densities of 16.29 seeds/m² and 21.66 seeds/m², respectively, in the savannas of Mbe and Nguela. Herbaceous species largely dominated, with percentages of 91% and 100%, respectively, in the savannas of Mbe and Nguela. Alone, the Trema orientalis (L.) Blume species has been identified as woody species in the Mbe savannah. The greatest specific richness has been obtained in the first five centimeters of soil, with 21.73% and 28.57% of exclusive species, respectively, in the savannas of Mbe and Nguela. The results reveal that restoration through the soil seed bank would be limited to a single woody species found (T. orientalis). Consequently, the study suggests silvicultural interventions based on planting or enrichment techniques for sustainably managed savannas exposed to anthropogenic disturbances.

Soil Seed Bank, Shrub Savannas, Restoration, Anthropogenic Disturbances, Republic of Congo

Douh, C. , Moussoumbou, C. , Mabengo, B. , Malonga, L. , Nsongola, G. , Miafouna, T. , Mahoua, A. , Ndzaï, S. and Koubouana, F. (2023) Soil Seed Bank Characteristics of the Mbe and Nguela Shrub Savannas, and Implications for the Reforestation, Republic of Congo. Open Journal of Ecology, 13, 435-453. doi: 10.4236/oje.2023.137027.