Leucaena leucocephala is a species with high economical value and has been subjected to numerous kinds of investigations. This work was designed to develop methods for breaking seed dormancy and induce healthy seedling growth. Dry stored seeds of 1985 crop and fresh seeds of 1986 crop were used. Four treatments of two hundred seeds each were carried out: mechanical scarification; immersion in hot water for 10 minutes; immersion in concentrated sulfuric acid for 10 minutes and untreated. Seeds were incubated in Gerbox boxes, with 20 seeds per box, on filter paper which was moistened with distiled water. The boxes were maintained at a constant temperature of 25 ± 2oC and at a photoperiod of 10 hours light and 14 hours darkness. The results indicated that all seed treatments were effective in breaking seed dormancy. The sulfuric acid treatment resulted in the best early seedling growth for the dry stored seeds, while the hot water immersion led to the best growth for the fresh seeds. Significant differences (by t-test, simple and interaction ANOVA, SNK) were obtained among treatments for both seed germination and early seedling growth.