Assessment of Soil Seed Bank Dynamics and Regeneration Potential Across Three Different Forest Types in the Himalayan Foothills

This study examines the soil seed bank potential in three forest types in Dehradun district: Sal, Pine, and Mixed Deodar. Soil samples were collected and monitored for seedling emergence to assess their roles in natural regeneration and biodiversity conservation. Species composition, density, diversity indices, and inter-forest similarities were analyzed using statistical and ordination techniques.A total of 371 individuals from 15 species across 10 families were observed, with herbs being the dominant growth form (66.67%) and Asteraceae as the most represented family (20%). Seed density varied among forest types, with Pine forest having the highest germination potential and maximum seed density of 1291.67 seeds/m² for Sorghum halepense . Deodar forest had an intermediate density dominated by Cassia tora (638.89 seeds/m²), while Sal forest had the lowest density but supported the highest species richness (10 species) and diversity indices (Shannon = 2.07, Simpson = 0.85). Jaccard’s similarity coefficient indicated greater similarity between Sal and Pine forests (0.583), with Deodar showing the least overlap with Sal (0.286). NMDS ordination confirmed distinct community assemblages among the three forest types, with characteristic indicator species identified for each.These results demonstrate significant variation in soil seed bank composition and regenerative capacity across forest types. Pine forests have dense but less diverse seed banks, mainly dominated by grasses, while Sal forests have balanced and diverse assemblages, supporting broad regeneration potential. Deodar forests exhibit lower diversity due to dense canopy and thick litter layers. The presence of invasive species like Parthenium hysterophorus in all sites highlights ecological risks to native regeneration.