Suchergebnisse

The aim of this study was to determine the optimal plot size and the number of replications to evaluate fresh weight in Sudan grass [Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf.]. Twenty-six uniformity trials were carried out in two cultivars (BRS Estribo and CG Farrapo), in four sowing seasons (20 Dec, 20 Jan, 7 Feb and 24 Feb) and two methods for evaluating fresh weight (cutting and at flowering). The fresh weight was evaluated in 936 basic experimental units (BEU) (26 trials × 36 BEU per trial). One BEU comprised three rows of plants, 1 m in length (1.2 m2). The optimal plot size was determined using the maximum curvature method of the model of the coefficient of variation. For experiments in a completely randomised or randomised block design, in combinations of number of treatments and levels of experimental precision, the number of replications was determined by an iterative process. The optimal plot size to evaluate fresh weight in Sudan grass is 7.95 m2. Eight replications, to evaluate up to 50 treatments in a completely randomised or randomised block design, are sufficient to identify as significant at 0.05% probability by Tukey's test, differences between the mean value of each treatment of 30.2% of the mean value of the experiment.

The objectives of this study were to determine the sample size (i.e., number of plants) required to accurately estimate the average of morphological traits of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) and to check for variability in sample size between evaluation periods and seasons. Two uniformity trials (i.e., experiments without treatment) were conducted for two growing seasons. In the first season (2011/2012), the seeds were sown by broadcast seeding, and in the second season (2012/2013), the seeds were sown in rows spaced 0.50 m apart. The ground area in each experiment was 1,848 m2, and 360 plants were marked in the central area, in a 2 m × 2 m grid. Three morphological traits (e.g., number of nodes, plant height and stem diameter) were evaluated 13 times during the first season and 22 times in the second season. Measurements for all three morphological traits were normally distributed and confirmed through the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Randomness was confirmed using the Run Test, and the descriptive statistics were calculated. For each trait, the sample size (n) was calculated for the semiamplitudes of the confidence interval (i.e., estimation error) equal to 2, 4, 6, ..., 20% of the estimated mean with a confidence coefficient (1-?) of 95%. Subsequently, n was fixed at 360 plants, and the estimation error of the estimated percentage of the average for each trait was calculated. Variability of the sample size for the pigeonpea culture was observed between the morphological traits evaluated, among the evaluation periods and between seasons. Therefore, to assess with an accuracy of 6% of the estimated average, at least 136 plants must be evaluated throughout the pigeonpea crop cycle to determine the sample size for the traits (e.g., number of nodes, plant height and stem diameter) in the different evaluation periods and between seasons.

The objective of this work was to model and identify the best models for estimating the leaf area, determined by digital photos, of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) of the cultivars IPR91-Baili and IPR92-Altar, as a function of length (L), width (W) or length x width product (LW) of the leaf blade. Ten uniformity trials (blank experiments) were carried out, five with IPR91-Baili cultivar and five with IPR92-Altar cultivar. The trials were performed on five sowing dates. In each trial and cultivar, expanded leaves were collected at random from the lower, middle and upper segments of the plants, totaling 1,815 leaves. In these 1,815 leaves, L and W were measured and the LW of the leaf blade was calculated, which were used as independent variables in the model. The leaf area of each leaf was determined using the digital photo method (Y), which was used as a dependent variable of the model. For each sowing date, cultivar and thirds of the plant, 80% of the leaves (1,452 leaves) were randomly separated for the generation of the models and 20% of the leaves (363 leaves) for the validation of the models of leaf area estimation as a function of linear dimensions. For buckwheat, IPR91-Baili and IPR92-Altar cultivars, the quadratic model (Ŷ = 0.5217 + 0.6581LW + 0.0004LW2, R2 = 0.9590), power model (Ŷ = 0.6809LW1.0037, R2 = 0.9587), linear model (Ŷ = 0.0653 + 0.6892LW, R2 = 0.9587) and linear model without intercept (Ŷ = 0.6907LW, R2 = 0.9587) are indicated for the estimation of leaf area determined by digital photos (Y) based on the LW of the leaf blade (x), and, preferably, the linear model without intercept can be used, due to its greater simplicity.

The aim of this study was to determine the rate of node appearance (RNA), the final number of nodes (FNN) and the period of node emission (PNE) in two buckwheat cultivars (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) for different sowing dates, and to check variability in the RNA, FNN and PNE between the cultivars and sowing dates. The IPR91-Baili and IPR92-Altar cultivars were evaluated for 29 and 31 sowing dates from October to May in the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 agricultural years respectively. In each experiment, a completely randomised design with five replications was used. The number of nodes (NN) on the main stem was counted twice a week in each plant (replication), from emission of the first node until the end of the cycle. The linear regression (y = a + bx) of the number of nodes (NN, y) was adjusted for each plant based on the number of days after emergence (DAE, x). The rate of node appearance (RNA), in days node-1, was determined from the inverse of the slope of the linear regression between NN and DAE (RNA = 1/b). The RNA was calculated for the period of node emission (PNE, in days), i.e. from emergence to emission of the last node. The final number of nodes (FNN) was counted at the end of node emission. Variability was found in the rate of node appearance (RNA), the final number of nodes (FNN) and the period of node emission (PNE) between the cultivars and sowing dates. The rate of node appearance ranges between 2.20 and 8.23 days node-1, the final number of nodes between 2.20 and 17.20, and the period of node emission between 16.60 and 49.20 days. Plants of the IPR91-Baili and IPR92-Altar cultivars show better vegetative development (lower RNA, higher FNN and greater PNE) when sown in November, December, January and February, compared to those sown in October, March, April and May.