In drylands, as far as we know, the impact of subsistence activities such as rainfed agriculture and firewood extraction on the soil seed bank is unknown. In a tropical dryland of central Mexico, rainfed agriculture and firewood extraction resulted in abandoned croplands and mesquite shrublands, respectively. Our aim was to evaluate the species richness, density, and composition of the soil seed bank in abandoned croplands and mesquite shrublands. Species richness and seed density were evaluated in soil samples taken from open spaces and under shrubs in abandoned croplands and mesquite shrublands during the dry season. Seeds were identified and grouped into grasses, weeds, and native plants. The species richness and seed density were similar between the soil bank of abandoned croplands and mesquite shrublands. The soil seed bank in abandoned croplands was dominated by weeds and grasses, whereas in mesquite shrublands was dominated by weeds and native plants. The soil seed bank was relatively similar between the rainfed agriculture and firewood extraction. These results suggest that rainfed agriculture and firewood extraction promote similar changes in the soil seed bank of this tropical dryland, despite being very different subsistence activities.