The aim of this study was to estimate the sample size and the plot size for growth and productivity characteristics in different moments of development of tomato grown under high tunnel and in field during the seasons of spring-summer and autumn-winter. The growth variables studied were plant height, number of leaves, stem diameter in the collar and stem diameter at the first inflorescence; and, the productivity variables were the number of inflorescences/infructescences and the number of fruits per plant, evaluated at different moments of the crop development. When the variances among the rows of the crop were heterogeneous, the sample size was calculated with the highest coefficient of variation (CV) among the rows of the crop, and when they were homogenous, the sample size was calculated with the average CV. The plot size was calculated by the methods of the maximum curvature modified and maximum curvature of coefficient of variation and the differences in percentage of average by the Hatheway method. For a single recommendation of the sample size, considering the semi-amplitude of confidence interval of 10%, the sample size in the crop row is 9 and 22 plants, respectively, for the growth and productivity characteristics in high tunnel, and 7 and 16 plants in the crop row, respectively, for the growth and productivity characteristics in the field. The plot size for the growth characteristics is 3 plants in the crop row and, for the productive characteristics, plots of 7 plants in the crop row.
Solanum lycopersicum; experimental precision; experimental planning; test of uniformity
