Abstract
Abstract Chamaecrista rotundifolia is a legume of high yield and nutritional value for livestock; however, it presents high seed dormancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate dormancy-breaking methods and the influence of soil texture on seedling emergence and initial development of C. rotundifolia. The experiment was performed in a greenhouse in a split-plot design with five replications. There were three treatments including dormancy-breaking techniques with immersion of the seeds in (1) hot water at 80°C for 30 s followed by 12 h in water at room temperature (25 °C; HW); (2) water at room temperature (25 °C) for 24 h (EW); and (3) hydrochloric acid (0.05 mol L-1) for 15 min (HA) (4) and a control group with no seed intervention, disposed in the main plots in randomized blocks. Seeds were cropped in two types of soil as subplots. Seedling emergence was evaluated daily to calculate the percentage emergence and emergence speed index. Plant performance was evaluated (21 days after sowing) through measurements of mass and length of components. Chamaecrista rotundifolia showed a high degree of dormancy in the seeds, and the treatment using HW had greater efficiency in seedling emergence (p < 0.01) and emergence speed index (p < 0.05). Total dry mass was superior in sandy soil (p < 0.05). Soil texture and dormancy treatments influenced the initial performance of plants, which performed better in sandy soil.
Highlights
Legume forages are a low-cost form of nitrogen introduction to pastures, improving soil fertility and animal development(1)
There was no effect of the interaction between soil types and dormancybreaking treatments (p > 0.05) on parameters of seedling emergence and emergence speed index
Chamaecrista rotundifolia seed dormancy could be verified in this study through the low emergence of seedling in the control group and the increased emergence in other treatments (Table 2), corroborating the findings of Lima et al(5) through the germination data
Summary
Legume forages are a low-cost form of nitrogen introduction to pastures, improving soil fertility and animal development(1). Rotundifolia) is among many tropical legumes (Fabaceae) in Brazil. This species was improved in Australia, and currently, it is promising for intercropping in tropical pastures(2) as well as an exclusive crop with yield and suitable chemical composition for hay production(3). Knowledge about C. rotundifolia in agriculturally productive environments is still being established through studies in the Amazon region. There are some challenges for the establishment of this species as forage in tropical pastures in Brazil, as the seeds are commercially unavailable(4) and present dormancy(5). The low capacity of water absorption of these seeds blocks the imbibition process, hindering embryo growth and, delaying germination and plant emergence(8)
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