The objective of this study was to evaluate the initial growth of Caesapinia ferrea Mart ex. Tul var. leiostachva Benth (Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae) under four hidric regimes (overflow, 70, 40 and 12.5% of field capacity). The seedlings were submitted to the treatments after 60 days of age. The experimental delineation was completely randomized with four repetitions of eight seedlings for treatment. After 7 days of permanence under treatment, the evaluations had been initiated. The diameter (6,5 mm), relative water content (52.45%), specific foliar area (174.58 g cm²), rate of relative growth (0.0160 g g-1), liquid assimilated rate (0.0004 g dm-2 days-1) and specific weight of leaf (0.0062 g cm²) did not vary statistically between the treatments. The seeds under 70% CC had presented greater height (84.6 cm), size of the root (28.9 cm), dry mass of the root (6.24 g), foliar area (376.0 cm²), dry mass of the leaf (1.98 g), dry mass of the aerial part (8.27 g) and content chlorofile (31.67 ìg cm²).The ratio of specific weight (0.2368 g g-1) and the nitrogen content (0.37 g kg-1) was higher under 12.5% CC. The ratio of foliar area (35.09 g g-1) was lower under 12.5% CC. Therefore, the best condition for the production of the seedlings is at 70% of the field capacity.
Stress; production of seedlings; native species
