Influence of Mechanical Scarification and Open-Field Sowing Procedure over <i>Cassia ferruginea</i> Germination Process

Abstract

Seed dormancy implicates on delay and hampers seedling production. The increasing demand for greater seedlings production favors techniques that overcome seed dormancy. Cassia ferruginea is an economically relevant species that seeds present tegumentar dormancy, and there is no registry of the best sowing approach. In order to evaluate the influence of the mechanical scarification procedure, and open-field production method in the germination process of Cassia ferruginea, about five thousand seeds were evenly distributed between control and mechanical scarification with emery. The control group presented a low germination rate during the period of analysis. However, mean germination time and mean time to stabilize germination were remarkably lower to scarified seeds, also presenting higher germination rates and synchronization. The sporadic and low germination pattern observed in the control group is associated with ecological implications. The open-field production process presented significant differences to important indexes when compared to the greenhouse production process. Thus, mechanical scarification with emery is an appropriate method to overcome Cassia ferruginea seed dormancy, providing a faster, synchronized, and better seed lot exploitation. Favorable aspects of commercial seedling production. While the open-field production process was not adequate for seedling production.