Escarificador de sementes nativas

Due to the growing demand for saplings of native forest species to supply foment reforestation programs, technologies are increasingly needed to meet the routine demands of nursery owners. Among the many peculiarities of the seeds of native species, it is possible to mention the dormancy as a limiting factor for the production of saplings. Thus, to solve the problem of scarification of seeds with physical dormancy, the present work has as main objective: to make a scarifier of native seeds with capacity to aid small and medium producers of seedlings of native species. In order to be able to develop this new product, it was used as methodology seeds quality tests and the manufacture of a low cost prototype. These tests consisted of seed imbibition, germination and water content, both carried out as control treatment, with manual scarification and mechanized scarification. After the tests the tests were realized in the prototype and pointed out the adjustments that must be made for new tests.