<p>The plants are subjected to conditions of multiple stresses that limit their growth and development, which affects their chances of survival wherever they grow. To evaluate the plant tolerance to these conditions, one of the most used methods is the observation of seed germination under salt stress. The action of salts on the seeds varies widely among species and can exert toxic effects, causing damage before and/or after the onset of germination. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of different salts in water absorption and germination in jucá seeds (<em>Libidibia ferrea</em>). For absorption and germination curve, were used non-scarified and scarified seeds, and subjected to the treatments in distilled water (control) and NaCl solutions, KCl, CaCl<sub>2</sub> and K<sub>2</sub>HPO<sub>4</sub>, in an electric conductivity of 5 dS m<sup>-1</sup>. The saline solution composed by K<sub>2</sub>HPO<sub>4</sub> influence on water absorption of <em>L. ferrea</em> in intact seeds. The scarified and non-scarified seeds of <em>L. ferrea</em> have different times for the physiological phases of water absorption. The action of salts in the germination and vigor in non-scarified and scarified seeds, does not significantly reduce these values due to electrical conductivity of 5 dS m<sup>-1</sup> not be enough to affect the seed germination of <em>L. ferrea</em>.</p>