The main goal of this research was to identify those treatments that besides being capable of overcoming dormancy in Cenchrus echinatus seeds were favorable to germination and liable to field use. Four seed lots were submitted to mechanical escarafication, cariopse excised, KNO3 (1%) immers ion fo r 5 and 20 minutes, KNO3 (1, 3 e 5%) immersion for 5 minutes, H2O immers ion for 5 minute s, 5°C/7 days storage, thermal treatments at 40, 55,and 70°C/8h in air circulating oven, H2SO4 (98%, 36N) immersion fo r 1, 5, and 15 minutes. Treated seeds were evaluated by means of the standard germination test and emerging seedlings, first germination and emergence count, germination and emergence speed. The use of mechanical escarafication, cariopse excised, KNO3 (1 - 3%) immersion for 5 minutes are dormancy overcoming techniques able to promote field emergence.
Cenchrus echinatus; seed; dormancy; emergence