DETERMINATION OF THE OPTIMUM SIZE AND SHAPE OF EXPERIMENTAL PARCEL IN TESTS OF VARIETIES OF RICE, CHICHEBRE, PANAMA, 1990.

Abstract

At the Experimental Station of Chichebre, located in the Distric of Chepo, Province of Panama, a test evaluation was carried out of varieties of rice. Thirty two parcels of different sizes and forms were taken with the objetive of evaluating the effect of such variables as the effective area of the experimental parcel and number and length of rows on the experimental precision of parameters such as the coefficient of variation (CV), the standard deviation (S), and the coefficient of determination (R²). The relationship between each parameter and the independet variables was measured with multiple regression and quadratic models. The results indicate that the area is the most important factor in decreasing the coefficient of variation, followed by the length of the row. The values of area most affected area found between 4 and 6 m² and those of length between 4 and 5 m. Similar results were found for the standard deviation, with significant effects due to area and length of row.