Abstract: The leonard jars were modified to use for germination test in soil seed bank research. Compared with the soil under sprinkle condition, the soil samples in the leonard jars can be regularly watered from below through the siphonage, kept porous, and avoid washing out by sprinkle. The water content of soil in Leonard jars varied from the one in the flower pots at 24h and 48h after sprinkle, and comparatively stable for 3 months. The man-made soil seed bank samples by mixing the select and known number of seeds with sterile soil were used for germination test in the Leonard jars and flower pots under sprinkle condition respectively. No significant differences were found in germination percentage(GP)and the mean rate of germination(CRG). The Leonard jars can be conveniently and effectively applied to germination test in soil seed bank research.

Key words: submerged macrophyte, light, physiological effects, engineering practice.