The seed bank dynamics as a tool for evaluating the pasture improvement efficiency in a Mediterranean environment.

The ecology of seed bank is very informative of the vegetation development and persistence (Leck et al., 1989) and of the conservation of plant communities and species, mainly depending on the incidence of the persistent fraction of the seed bank (Diemont, 1990). The composition of the herbaceous community, and its soil seed bank, in the Mediterranean range lands is highly influenced by pasture management, climatic and topographic conditions, productivity levels (Os em et al., 2002). In this paper, with the aim of evaluating the efficiency of a legume-based over-sown pasture in Central Sardinia, the seed bank dynamic was observed during three years.