ABSTRACT The objectives of this work were to determine the optimum plot size and number of repetitions to evaluate the fresh matter weight of vetch (Vicia sativa L.) in sowing densities. Fortyeight uniformity trials of 6 m × 6 m were conducted. Sixteen trials were evaluated in each sowing density (40, 60, and 80 kg∙ha−1). Each trial was divided into 36 basic experimental units (BEU) of 1 m × 1 m, totaling 1,728 BEU. In each BEU, the fresh matter was weighed. The optimum plot size was determined by the method of maximum curvature of the coefficient of variation model. The means were compared among sowing densities by the Scott-Knott’s test. The number of repetitions — for experiments with completely randomized and randomized block designs, in scenarios of i treatments (i = 3, 4, …, 50) and d minimal differences between treatments means being detected as significant with 5% probability by Tukey’s test, expressed in percentage of the experiment average (d = 10%, 11%, …, 20%), was determined by iterative process until convergence. The optimum plot size to evaluate the fresh matter weight of vetch is 4.52 m2 at the 3 sowing densities. Four repetitions, to evaluate up to 50 treatments, in completely randomized and randomized block designs, are enough to identify as significant, at 5% probability by Tukey’s test, differences between treatment means of 29.15% of the experiment average.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar a capacidade de coleta de três métodos de amostragem de lagartas e de percevejos na cultura de soja. Para isso, em área de 6,16ha de soja, foi demarcado um gride de 154 pontos amostrais, espaçados de 20×20m. Em cada um desses 154 pontos, foram coletadas lagartas (pequenas, grandes e total) e percevejos (ninfas, adultos e total) (seis variáveis), por meio dos métodos de amostragem pano-de-batida, pano-de-batida largo e pano-de-batida vertical, em 14 estádios fenológicos da cultura de soja, totalizando 6.468 coletas. Para cada uma dessas seis variáveis, em cada um dos 14 estádios fenológicos e no geral (todos os estádios fenológicos), as médias dos três métodos de amostragem foram comparadas pelo teste t (bilateral) de Student para dados pareados, em nível de 5% de probabilidade. O número de lagartas coletadas por meio dos métodos de amostragem é decrescente na seguinte ordem: pano-de-batida vertical, pano-de-batida largo e pano-de-batida. O número de percevejos coletados por meio dos métodos de amostragem pano-de-batida vertical e pano-de-batida largo é superior ao pano-de-batida. O pano-de-batida vertical é o mais eficiente para a coleta de lagartas e de percevejos.

The aim of this study was to compare the collect capacity of three sampling methods for caterpillars and stink bugs in soybean. Therefore, in a 6.16ha soybean field, a grid of 154 sampling points spaced 20×20m was marked. In each of these 154 points were collected caterpillars (small, large and total) and stink bugs (nymphs, adults and total) (six variables) by the sampling methods beating cloth, wide beating cloth and vertical beat sheet, on 14 phenological stages of the soybean crop, totaling 6,468 samples. For each of these six variables, on each of the 14 phenological stages and overall (all phenological stages), the averages of the three sampling methods were compared by Student's t test (bilateral) for paired data, in a 5% probability level. The number of caterpillars collected by the sampling methods decreases in the following order: vertical beat sheet, wide beating cloth and beating cloth. The number of stink bugs collected by the sampling methods vertical beat sheet and wide beating cloth is higher than beating cloth. Vertical beat sheet is the most efficient to collect caterpillars and stink bugs.