Germination of brave peanut (<i>Pterogyne nitens</i> Tul.) for utilization in reclamation of degraded areas

Abstract

The species Pterogyne nitens Tul. belongs to the Leguminoseae family - Caesalpinoideae, is known as brave peanut, occurs in the latitudes 06ºS and 28º, is an initial secondary species, behaving as pioneering it occurs in small sandy farms and degraded and in soils of low natural fertility, it is recommended for planting in riparian forest with periodic floodings areas of fast duration and resetting and restoration of degraded areas. The study had as objective to define the type of substratum and the temperature adequate for the germination of seeds of the brave peanut to serve as potential species in the recovery of degraded areas. The following substrates were evaluated: esterelized soil, vermiculite, and filter paper, at constant temperatures, of 20, 25,  30, and 35°C and alternated of 20-30°C in the period of eight hours. The statistical design used was randomized blocks (5 x 3), with four repetitions of 100 seeds. The parameters analyzed were germination (%) and speed of germination. The best results were at the constant temperatures of 25, 30 and 35°C,  and in vermiculite substrates and soil.