PLOT SIZE IN THE EVALUATION OF PAPAYA SEEDLINGS 'BAIXINHO DE SANTA AMÁLIA' IN TUBES

ABSTRACT Were evaluated three characters in papaya seedlings 'Baixinho de Santa Amália' to estimate the optimum plot size and the number of replications in a completely randomized experiment, a randomized block and Latin square. The characters were seedling height, leaf number and length of roots from uniformity test with 240 seedlings. The determination of the optimum plot size was done by applying the method of Hatheway (1961). The number of seedlings per plot for seedling production is variable depending on the number of treatments and replications assumed precision, the character in question and the experimental design. Comparing designs, the plot size is greater in the Latin square, followed by a randomized block design and completely randomized, and this difference is more pronounced the lower the number of treatments and replicates used. For the same number of treatments and the same precision, the most efficient use of the experimental area is given using smaller plot, with more replications, which require less space in the nursery than larger plots with fewer replications. For experiments completely randomized and randomized blocks with five or more treatments, four replications, and precision of 15% around the mean, it is recommended to use nine seedlings per plot.