植體除無性生殖外皆始於土中種子的萌芽。雜草種子經重力、彈跳、旋鑽等自主性散播，或風力、水力、及動物等藉物性散播，再經由耕犁、土壤隙縫或動物的助力而埋於土中。土中種子可發芽成新個體，完成其生命循環，但也可能因動物吞食、微生物侵入或本身劣變而死亡。發芽或死亡都會減少土壤種子庫中之種子數，留存於土中的活種子，則可能處於各種休眠狀態。影響土中種子種類及數目的因子，包括氣候、土壤狀況等環境因素，與植被、動物等先前經歷等。土壤種子庫的估計方法可分為，土壤發芽與分離計數兩類；取樣技術包括樣品大小、樣品數目及取樣時間等。就草本植物而言，根據土中種子數目的週年變遷，可將土壤種子庫分成持續性與暫時性兩大類型。持續性者整年皆有種子，常為需光性的小種子，發芽環境較狹窄；暫時性者在某些月份土中無種子，種子常較大，發芽所需的溫度及光照條件較寬鬆。種子在土中發芽與死亡期間，可能歷經休眠循環。完整的休眠循環是“休眠－制約性休眠－無休眠－制約性休眠－休眠”。無休眠種子能否發芽，以及種子如何進入各階段的休眠循環，皆是受到水分、氣體、光照等環境因子，特別是溫度的影響。種子休眠型態的週年變遷，符合植物的生長習性，如冬季一年生植物、夏季一年生植物、兼性冬季一年生植物、多年生植物等。種子生態習性的研究，可應用在野生蔬菜及自播性綠肥的生產，雜草、牧場、閒置地、野花草坪的管理，及保育地、濕地的植物復健等多方面。

This article was tended to review main aspects of the seed bank ecology. Firstly, the methods of estimating seed bank were compared, examples of soil seed bank were tabulated, factors affecting seed bank of arable lands were discussed, and the importance of the categories of soil seed bank was stressed, Secondly, dormancy cycles and field emergence were discussed at length, beginning from the methodology of revealing the dormancy cycle of buried seed, and then some examples of different types of the cycle. This topic was ended with the role of temperature in the periodically changes of the dormant status of the buried seeds. Finally, examples were given to demonstrate how to use the knowledge of seed bank ecology: weed control, reconstruction of habitat, production of wild plants, and classroom exercise.