## 3 Results and Discussion
Biochar added at the rate of 5 g per 100 mL of water increased the speed of germination by 20.7%, and the germination capacity of the seeds increased to 45.3%, which was 23.3% higher than the control group; conversely, these values increased by 11.3% and 7.3%, respectively, when compared to the seeds subjected to hydration. The method applied may present several advantages over the methods of pre-sowing seed treatment and enhancement currently used. In the literature we can find numerous seed scarification methods, more or less effective, and varied in terms of their feasibility for use in mass production. A number of authors have investigated methods of breaking seed dormancywith the use of concentrated sulphuric acid [41; 42; 43; 44; 45; 46; 47]. [PERSON] et al. [47] observed an increase in the germination capacity of Virginia mallow seeds subjected to scarification with sulphuric acid. The germination capacity following the scarification varied depending on the year the seeds were harvested and on the duration of their storage [35; 47]. Although it produces satisfying results, this method is hazardous to seeds (prolonged exposure to the acid leads to embryo death) and harmful to people carrying out the scarification process. Furthermore, scarification with sulphuric acid may lead to a decrease in seed vigour [41; 43; 47]. Mechanical processing is also frequently used to interrupt seed dormancy. However, such methods may prove troublesome for production on a large scale; examples include nicking lupin seed coats with a razor blade [48], manually rubbing burclover _Medicago polymorpha_ seeds with sand paper, and shaking seeds of clover _Trifolium subterraneum_ with sand in a laboratory shaker [49]. Germination rates may also be improved by a treatment involving the stimulation of seeds with a magnetic field, however, these techniques are rather costly and not as effective as other known methods of seed scarification [50; 51]. Effective methods for breaking seed dormancy include thermal scarification. Dormancy was successfully broken in seeds of burclover, _Medicago polimorpha_, and clover, _Trifolium subterraneum_, following a short-term heat treatment with a blowlamp. As a result, seed germination rate increased from 10 to 79% for burclover, and from 46 to 95% for clover [49]. Thermal scarification may also be performed by immersing seeds in hot water or treating them with liquid nitrogen. [PERSON] et al. [35; 47] observed a significant increase in the germination capacity of Virginia mallow seeds following a short treatment with hot water. The temperature required for interrupting the dormancy of a Virginia mallow seed depends on the length of time the seed has spent in storage. [PERSON] et al. [52] reported even a ten-fold increase in the viability of seeds of selected fast-growing tropical tree species, i.e., _Albizzia lebbek, Albizzia procera, Peltophorum pterocarppum, Acacia auriculiformis_ and _Leucena leuccephala_, following a short-term (1-10 min) treatment with hot water (100 \({}^{\circ}\)C). The dormancy of fodder galega seeds was interrupted following a treatment with liquid nitrogen (\(-\)196.5 \({}^{\circ}\)C) [53]. Notably, the duration and temperature of the treatments applied to break seed dormancy depends on the plant species. The experiment described in this paper is the first to apply biochar as an additional conditioner in the process of seed hydration. [PERSON] et al. [54] assessed the effects of biochars on seedling growth and absorption of allelochemicals present in corn (_Zea mays_ L.) residues. Corn seeds were germinated in aqueous extracts of six varied biochars. Extracts from the six biochars had no effect on percent germination; however, extracts from three biochars produced at high conversion temperatures significantly inhibited shoot growth by an average of 16% relative to control (deionized water). In the literature we can find studies assessing the effects of biochar as a soil fertiliser on seed germination. [PERSON] et al.