ChinaSoilSeedBank: A dataset on species diversity and composition of soil seed bank in China

Datasets on aboveground vegetation have been well established and used for comprehensive ecological and conservational studies. However, a comprehensive dataset for soil seed bank, particularly one integrating the species composition of soil seed bank, is still lacking, limiting our understanding of belowground community structure and dynamics. Here, we systematically built a dataset for soil seed bank of China (ChinaSoilSeedBank). The dataset comprises 3,170 soil seed bank communities, of which 1,827 communities include species composition data encompassing 3,070 plant species and 33,488 occurrence records. The dataset also incorporates environmental variables and plant functional traits associated with the soil seed bank communities, and supplements paired aboveground vegetation when reported. The ChinaSoilSeedBank dataset can be used to identify key conservation areas of high belowground biodiversity, to complement current aboveground-focused conservation strategies, and to guide ecological restoration in degraded ecosystems.