The mixture of forage seeds with mineral fertilizers can make intercropping systems possible by reducing competition with the grain-producing crop. However, if the mixture is prepared too early before sowing, the emergence and establishment of the forages can be negatively affected. Therefore, experiment were carried out in laboratory and greenhouse conditions, in Botucatu, São Paulo, to evaluate Brachiaria brizantha seed germination as related to the time of contact with distinct chemical fertilizers. The experiment had a completely randomized block design, in a 6 x 8 factorial scheme, with six contact periods of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu seeds (0, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 96 hours), with eight chemical fertilizers (urea, ammonium sulphate, potassium chloride, potassium sulphate, simple superphosphate, triple superphosphate, NPK 8-28-16 mixture as a mixture of granules or powder), in four replications. There was no relation between the germination tests under laboratory with that under field conditions. Under field conditions, Brachiaria brizantha plant emergence is not affected if the phosphate fertilizers, potassium chloride and formulated NPK powder are mixed with the seeds up to 96 h before sowing.
Forage; mineral fertilizer; field emergence
