Abstract
Seed of Paspalum virgatum was buried at four depths in soil at Central Farm, Belize, and subsets were exhumed at yearly intervals over a three year period. The seed rapidly lost viability, indicating that the large buried viable seed banks of this species that have been observed are maintained by constant seed input rather than by prolonged viability. Consequently, eradication of this species from agricultural soil should not be a lengthy task. A fire treatment experiment with seed of this species resulted in almost complete destruction of seed lying on the soil surface but only partial destruction of seed buried at 1 cm in the soil.
