Study on plot size in cassava (<em>Manihot esculenta</em> Crantz) experiments

Abstract

With the aim to estimate the plot size in cassava experiments, a uniformity assay was conducted at the campus of “Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia” in Vitória da Conquista, state of Bahia, Brazil. Modified maximum curvature method and Hatheway method were used. The difference to be detected among the treatment averages was also estimated as well as the heterogeneity index which varied from 0.549 to 0.3222. The estimate of the plot size changed with the methodology applied and the characteristic analyzed. Modified maximum curvature method specially in association with the difference to be detected among the averages was the one which allowed more adequate estimates. By applying this methodology and considering that the ideal plot would make possible an efficient evaluation of all the characteristics analyzed, the adequate plot size was found to be 15.02m² (26 plants).