Abstract: In order to clarify the dormancy mechanisms of Anemone rivularis seed and find better methods for breaking seed dormancy to provide a basis for cultivation for medicinal plants of A. rivularis, the efficacy of a series of treatments on seed germination and dormancybreaking of A. rivularis were assessed when compared with the untreated achene (CK). Soaking for 3-5 h with 40-50 g·L^-1 NaOH solution failed to break the dormancy of A. rivularis achenes. After 2 months of storage, the percentages of germination of the achenes with the head or the entire seedcase being removed were 3.3% and 6.2% (P>0.05), respectively, when cultivated without light but 38.7% and 76.0% (P<0.05), respectively, when cultivated with light. Cutting off the bottom of the achene made no difference, irrespective of cultivation with or without light. The germination of A. rivularis seed after partial seedcase removal (from 1/5 to 1/4) reached 62.7% and was significantly higher than that of CK (P<0.05). The germination of A. rivularis seed after seedcase puncture treatment was also significantly improved by 19.3% (P<0.05) but was less effective than that when the seedcase was totally or partially removed (P<0.05). There was no significant allelopathic effect of aqueous extract liquid of A. rivularis seedcase on the seed germination of A. rivularis. Soaking in GA₃ solution with concentration of 10-30 g·L^-1 for 10 h did not improve the germination of A. rivularis achene. The highest germination percentage of the A. rivularis seed was found at temperature alternating between 25 and 15 ℃ (with durations 8 and 16 h, respectively). There was no seed germination at temperature alternating between 15 and 5 ℃  or 10 and 5 ℃. Our results suggest that seedcase blocks the light, causing the dormancy of A. rivularis seed. Removing the seedcase could break the seed dormancy of A. rivularis effectively. However, some seeds still remain dormant after the seedcase is removed. Therefore, the dormancy type of A. rivularis seed (achene) is combinational (physical dormancy + physiological dormancy).

Key words: runoff., biological soil crust, surface roughness, revegetated grassland, infiltration