With the objective of verifying the variability effect between replications of number of days between sowing and 50% tussling, plant height harvesting and final plant population on the experimental error. Data from 15 field experiments of corn grain yield were analyzed. The experiments were conducted in Rio Grande do Sul state. Data were submitted to the variance and path coefficient analyses with grain yield as the main variable. Variance analyzes of grain seed yield was adjusted to plant population by averaged population covariance, population covariance and stratified correction. Cultivar selection and plant management that results in uniform plant population among replications reduce the experimental error of grain yield independent of plant height and maturity.
Zea mays; experimental precision; path analysis; covariance
