The germination of seeds is developmentally complex process requiring water uptake, which is regulated by both genotypic and environmental factors. The present study was undertaken to determine the difference in germination characteristics, and to compare the ability of the logistic and Weibull functions to describe the cumulative germination curve when two levels of osmotic potential(0, -5 bar) were put to seeds of alfalfa, tall fescue, orchardgrass, and Kentucky bluegrass. The effects of grass type, osmotic potential, and their interaction on the total germination and coefficient of germination velocity were significant(P<0.01). The Weibull equation for predicting percent cumulative germination curve of alfalfa had significantly lower residuals than the logistic equation regardless of osmotic potential(P<0.01), indicating that the Weibull equation was more efficient than the logistic equation to fit the data of the percent cumulative germination of alfalfa. The rate parameter from the logistic equation was decreased under water stress, whereas the scale and shape parameters were increased. There were significant differences in days to 20% germination estimated from the logistic and Weibull equations.