ABSTRACT:
Proper planning of experiments in the culture of castor bean is one of the ways to maximize the research information. The aim of this study was to determine the optimum plot size and number of replications and the influence of spacing between plants in experiments involving castor bean crops. The experiment with the hybrid Sara was conducted at the Federal University of Santa Maria in 2010 with a spacing of 1.2 m between rows and between plants of 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 m. Each plant was evaluated taking into account: the number of racemes, fruit weight, the average length of the racemes, and fruit number, with the plant identification by the order number of the row and the number of plants within the row. The optimum plot size is eight plants for all spacings and all variables. However, the area of optimum plot size inside the spacing depends on the area occupied by the basic unit. Thus, the plot area is 3.84, 5.76 and 7.68 m2 for each spacing of 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 m, respectively. Twelve replications in randomized block design, are sufficient to identify, as significant at 5% probability, differences between treatment means of 27%.
Keywords:
Ricinus communis L; Experimental accuracy; Plot size.
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