The objectives of this research were to determine the sample size (number of plants) to estimate the average of the morphological and productive characters of black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb) and check the variability of the sample size among characters and evaluation times. A field experiment was conducted and in ten evaluation times (22, 28, 34, 42, 48, 55, 76, 83, 90 and 105 days after sowing) were randomly selected 52 plants, totaling 520 plants. In each plant, were measured morphological (plant height, number of leaves and number of tillers) and productive characters (fresh and dry matters). Measures of central tendency and variability were calculated, normality was checked and the sample size was calculated. In the culture of black oat, there is variability in the sample size among characters and evaluation times. To estimate average with the same precision, the sample size of productive characters is greater than morphological. The sample size at the intermediate stage of crop development is greater than the final (last evaluation times) and initial stages (first evaluation times). For the morphological and productive characters, 47 plants are enough to predict the average, with an estimation error maximum of 20% of estimated average, with a degree confidence of 95%.
Avena strigosa Schreb; experimental design; sampling.
