Plot Size and Number of Replications for Evaluation of the Yield of Grains in Cultivars and Dates of Sowing of Rye

The objectives of this study were to determine the optimum plot size (Xo) and the number of replications to evaluate the grains yield of rye (Secale cereale L.) and investigate the variability of Xo between two cultivars and three sowing dates. Eighteen uniformity trials were conducted with rye. The Xo was determined by the method of maximum curvature of the coefficient of variation model. The number of repetitions was determined in scenarios formed by combinations of i treatments (i = 3, 4, ... 50) and d minimum differences between means of treatments to be detected as significant at 0.05 of probability, by Tukey test, expressed in percentage of the average of the experiment (d = 10, 12, ... 30%). There is variability in optimum plot size to evaluate the grains yield among the cultivars BRS Progresso and Temprano and among sowing dates in the rye crop. The optimum plot size to evaluate the grains yield of rye is 6.08 m2. Seven replicates are sufficient to evaluate the grains yield of rye in experiments with up to 50 treatments, and identify, as significant at 5% probability by Tukey test, differences among averages of treatments of 29.65% of the mean of the experiment in designs completely randomized and randomized block.