ABSTRACT
The successful establishment of tree species in pastures may be related to the species used, germination conditions, and seed size. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments: pre-hydration and different kinds of seed coverage in eight native species with different seed sizes and verify if these species would be able to produce 1,666 individual ha-1 after one year. Five of the eight species tested had potential for large-scale use with the higher germination rate for the small seeds. The pre-hydration of the seeds was not efficient in increasing the germination and in the establishment of species, but coverage with straw and soil showed important results. The best result was obtained with the treatment of seed coverage with soil without hydration, with the establishment of 3,817 seedlings ha-1 after one year.
seed coating; seed pre-hydration; seed size
