Differences in weed seed banks in planted tree fallows in southwestern Nigeria

The weed seed bank under seven fallow tree species was analysed in size and composition five years after tree establishment. The seed bank was lower i n Enterolobium cyclocarpum fallows than in the other tree fallows at both 0 -5 and 5-10 cm depths. Nuclea latifolia and Terminalia,, superba tree fallo ws had the highest seed banks despite the fact that they had the highest fl oor litter cover. There was no correlation between light transmission and s eed bank suggesting that other factors than shade were responsible for the differences in the seed bank observed in the different tree plantations. Ge nerally, Talinum triangulare, sedges, Ageratum conyzoides, Spermacoce ocymo ides and Oldenlandia, corymbosa were the dominant species in all tree fallo ws.