Plot size for evaluation of Arabica coffee yield

Abstract

In most cases, in genetic breeding of Arabica coffee, plot size is defined in an empirical manner. It is often based only on the experience of the breeders and the availability of resources, potentially leading to a reduction in precision. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the size of the experimental plot for evaluation of coffee yield. We evaluated two experiments for validation of cultivars with 12 treatments set up in a randomized complete block design with three replicates and plots composed of 50 plants. Each plant was considered as a basic unit. Estimates of ideal plot size were made by maximum curvature of the coefficient of variation, linear-plateau segmented model and by the resampling methods. We discussed the variations in the parameter estimates for different plot sizes. Divergence was seen among the plot sizes estimated by the different methodologies. Increasing the number of plants per plot led to a higher experimental precision to the point that the increase was no longer significant. The plot size recommended for evaluating coffee production is from seven to 19 plants.

Productivity and grain size of coffee grown in different weed management systems

“…Five treatments involving weed control strategies were evaluated (Table 2). Each plot consisted of three rows of coffee (two between the cropping lines) with a length of 7.5 m. Each plot consisted of ten plants arranged in row, an adequate plot size for coffee yield evaluation, as recommended by Moraes et al (2019) Before the implementation of treatments, the crop that had been managed by mowing for more than four years was subjected to desiccation between the lines, using glyphosate (1.08 g ha -1 ) and 2,4-D (0.536 g ha -1 ), in November 2016, in order to homogenize the area's vegetation and enable the implementation of treatments with UR and PP.…”

Estimação do tamanho ótimo de parcela e uso de medidas de não linearidade na validação de modelos em experimentos com >i<Passiflora>/i<

“…Vários trabalhos, com diversas espécies, têm sido desenvolvidos em campo, casa de vegetação e in vitro com o intuito de estimar o tamanho ótimo de parcelas, bem como um adequado número de repetições: café Moraes et al, 2019); tomate (Lúcio et al, 2016;Galvão et al, 2019); pepino (Lúcio et al, 2020); trigo ; mamão Celanti et al, 2016;Faria et al, 2020a); banana (Silva et al, 2019a); eucalipto (Lopes et al, 2020;Araújo et al, 2015), estão entre as espécies estudadas.…”