Emergence and vigor of Amburana cearensis (Allemão) A.C. Smith seedling in function of the sowing position and depth

Abstract

Amburana cearensis (Allemão) A.C. Smith is a Fabaceae, popularly known as cumaru or cherry tree. This species is native of Northeast Brazilian and has its qualities for industry of wood and as medicinal plant. It has being explored progressively, and now it is striped as threatened species of extinction. So, studies that help in its preservation are important. With the objective of verifying the effect of the position and depth of sowing on emergence and vigor, an experiment was accomplished with an entirely randomized designe, with four replications of 25 seeds each. The treatments consisted of different positions of seeds in substrates: I - hilum bound to top (HC); II - hilum apt, forming an angle of 90° in relation to the imaginary axis (HL); and III - hilum bound down (HB). The tested depths were: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 cm. The evaluations were percentage of emergence, index of emergence speed (IVE), length and dry mass of the seedlings. The 3.3 cm depth of sowing with the position of the hilum apt provided better response for the percentage of emergence, however in this position, it was verified the smallest IVE. The seeds of A. cearensis should be sowed with hilum apt, forming an angle of 90° in relation to the imaginary axis in the depth of 3.5 cm.