Data for: Vertical stratification of topsoil in semideciduous Atlantic Forest restoration: is it necessary?

This dataset contains experimental data from a two-year greenhouse and field experiment evaluating the regenerative potential of topsoil translocation for Atlantic Forest restoration in Brazil. The study compares five distinct topsoil treatments differing in depth (0–5 cm vs. 5–10 cm), litter inclusion, and operational handling conditions. The dataset includes: Seedling Emergence: Temporal tracking and total count of emerged seedlings. Taxonomic Identification: Species richness, genera, and botanical families. Functional Trait Classification: Successional categories (pioneer vs. non-pioneer species). Floristic Composition: Raw matrices used to calculate floristic similarity (Sorensen index) between treatments and the reference donor forest. All data are formatted to support the reproducibility of the statistical analyses and figures presented in the manuscript.