Too intensive management by mowing or grazing or cessation of management both lead to the floristic impoverishment of meadow communities. Soil seed bank can play an essential role in the ecological restoration of species-rich semi-natural grasslands. In Poland, little research has been conducted in this area, particularly refers to Arrhenatherion meadows. The aim of the studies was to determine the density and species composition of the soil seed bank of Arrhenatheretum elatioris meadows as well as the distribution of seeds across four soil levels. The studies were carried out in two habitats: Arrhenatheretum elatioris (code 6510-1) and Poa pratensis – Festuca rubra (code 6510-2). Soil samples were collected up to a depth of 20 cm, divided into four levels: 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-15 cm 15-20 cm. The size and species composition of the seed bank was determined by extracting seeds from the soil samples. The number of diaspores (seeds and fruits) in the topsoil (0-20 cm) layer was 56,430 seeds∙m^-2 (Arrhenatheretum elatioris) and 118,510 seeds∙m^-2 (Poa pratensis – Festuca rubra). The soil seed banks were dominated by diaspores of annual dicotyledonous species (above 80%) which were mainly seeds of arable weeds or ruderal plants. The assessed soil seed banks were dominated by Chenopodium album and Stellaria media. In both grasslands, the quantity of Poaceae and Fabaceae diaspores were very low. These results confirmed that most mesic grassland species did not form persistent seed banks and reintroduction of target species seeds is necessary in order to restore the species-rich Arrhenatherion elatioris meadows.

25-38