During the evaluation of the experimental phase, which corresponds to competition experiments and indication of cultivars, is recommended total harvest of plots, which, owing to their costs, can become impracticable. Optionally, one can estimate the production based on taking samples representing plots. The aim of this study was to research the sample sufficiency in sugarcane for estimating the mass of stalks of experimental plots. One used the maximum curvature of the power model, the linear and quadratic segmented models with response plateau and the relative CV model. Studies based on simulated analysis of variance were done also. The application of these models and the ANOVA was supported by bootstrap resamplings. The results indicated that a sample made by 20 stalks harvested in plot can be used for estimating properly the variable mass of the stalk. This value may be used for estimating the sugarcane yield per hectare
sample size; sample sufficiency; sugarcane breeding; Saccharum spp
