The objectives of this study were to determine the optimum plot size (Xo) and the number of replications to evaluate grain yield and verify the variability of Xo among oat cultivars. Thirtytwo uniformity trials of 3 × 3 m were performed, being 8 from each cultivar (URS Charrua, URS Taura, URS Estampa, and URS Corona). Each uniformity trial was divided in 36 basic experimental units (BEU) of 0.5 × 0.5 m. Grain yield was determined in each BEU. The Xo was determined by the method of maximum curvature of the coefficient of variation model. Mean comparisons among cultivars were performed by the Scott-Knott test via bootstrap. The number of replications was calculated by an iterative process until convergence for experiments in completely randomized design (CRD) and randomized block CRop pRoduCTion And MAnAgeMenT-Article

Studies on growth models for productive character of sunn hemp are important to know the behavior of the culture. Therefore, the objective of this research was to adjust non-linear models, Gompertz and Logistic, in the description of productive traits of sunn hemp in two sowing periods. Two uniformity trials were performed. The evaluations began on October the 29 th 2014 and December the 16 th 2014, totaling 94 and 76 evaluation days for periods 1 and 2, respectively. After the emergence of the seeds of sunn hemp, for first period from 7 days after sowing, and from 2 to 13 days after sowing, on each day, they were collected randomly four plants. The traits: fresh matter leaf, stem, root, shoot, and total, and dry matter leaf, stem, root, shoot, and total. For both models the confidence interval was calculated of parameters a, b and c. The adjustment quality of the Gompertz and Logistic models was verified by the determination coefficient, the Akaike information criteria, residual standard deviation, mean absolute deviation, mean absolute percentage error and mean prediction error. The Gompertz model when compared between the sowing periods through the confidence interval of the parameters, for the productive traits, differs. The same result was found for the Logistic model. The growth models of Gompertz and Logistic presented good adjustment quality.

RESUMO:O trabalho teve como objetivo verificar os efeitos dos estresses hídrico e salino na germinação de sementes de Petiveria alliacea, bem como definir os limites máximos de tolerância da espécie a esses estresses. As sementes foram submetidas aos agentes osmóticos NaCl, CaCl 2 e PEG nos potenciais à 0; -0,1; -0,2; -0,3; -0,4; -0,5; -0,6; -0,7; -0,8; -0,9 e -1,0 MPa sob temperatura constante de 25°C e fotoperíodo de 12 horas, com avaliações diárias durante 30 dias. As variáveis analisadas foram porcentagem de germinação, índice de velocidade de germinação, tempo médio de germinação, índice de sincronização e frequência relativa da germinação. As sementes de P. alliacea sob estresse osmótico apresentam menor porcentagem e velocidade de germinação com a redução dos potencias osmóticos, principalmente com CaCl 2 . Em potenciais osmóticos mais negativos que -0,4; -0,5 e -0,7 MPa, respectivamente nos agentes CaCl 2 , NaCl, e PEG, não ocorre germinação. O padrão de distribuição da frequência relativa aumentou a polimodalidade, o tempo médio de germinação e o índice de sincronização da germinação com a redução dos potencias osmóticos.Palavras-chave: estresse hídrico, estresse salino, planta medicinal, guiné. ABSTRACT: Osmotic stress on seed germination of Petiveria alliacea L.The study aimed to investigate the effects of water and salt stress on seed germination of Petiveria alliacea, as well as to define the limits of tolerance of the species to these stresses. The seeds were subjected to osmotic agents NaCl, CaCl 2 and PEG in the potential 0; -0.1; -0.2; -0.3; -0.4; -0.5; -0.6; -0.7; -0.8; -0.9 and -1.0 MPa at a constant temperature of 25°C and a photoperiod of 12 hours, with daily assessments for 30 days. The variables studied were germination percentage, germination velocity index, middle fear germination, synchronization index and relative frequency of germination. The seeds of P. alliacea under osmotic stress had lower percentage and speed of germination with the reduction of the the osmotic potential, especially with CaCl 2 . At more negative osmotic potentials than -0.4; -0.5 and -0.7 MPa, respectively in the CaCl 2 , NaCl, and PEG agents, the germination does not occur. The distribution pattern of the relative frequency increased the several modalities, , the average time of germination and the germination index of synchronization with the reduction of osmotic potential.

This study aimed to verify the influence of the basic experimental unit (BEU) size in the estimation of the optimum plot size to evaluate the fresh matter of sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) using the modified maximum curvature method. The fresh matter of sunn hemp was evaluated in uniformity trials in two sowing season in flowering. In each sowing season, 4,608 BEUs of 0.5×0.5m (0.25m2) were evaluated and 36 BEU plans were formed with sizes from 0.25 to 16m2. In each evaluation period for each BEU plan, using fresh matter data, optimum plot size was estimated through the modified maximum curvature method. Estimation of the optimum plot size depends on the BEU size. Assessing fresh matter in BEUs that are as small as possible is recommended in order to use it to estimate the optimum plot size.

The determination of the optimum plot size in agricultural crops is important for obtaining accurate inferences in the treatments in question. This study aimed at determining the optimum plot size (Xo) and the number of replications to evaluate the fresh matter (FM) and the dry matter (DM) of oat and at verifying the variability of Xo among cultivars and sowing dates. Ninety-six uniformity trials of 3×3 m were performed and each assay was divided into 36 basic experimental units (BEU) of 0.5×0.5 m. The 96 uniformity trials were distributed in four cultivars and three sowing dates. At the flowering stage, FM and DM were determined in each BEU. Then, the Xo was determined in each uniformity assay, using the maximum curvature method of the coefficient of variation model. In oat, there is variability of Xo among cultivars and sowing dates to measure FM and DM. For the four cultivars on the three sowing dates, the Xo of 1.66 m2 and of 1.73 m2 are suitable to evaluate FM and DM, respectively. Four replications to evaluate the maximum of 50 treatments in completely randomized design and randomized blocks design are sufficient so that the differences among treatment means of 44.75% of the experiment mean may be significant, using the Tukey test at 5% probability to measure FM and DM in oat.