Plot-size in yield surveys

Abstract

Recent communications by Sukhatme and Mahalanobis have established the conclusion that sample plots of a small size (25 sq. ft. or less according to Mahalanobis) give biased estimates of yield in sample surveys ; but whereas Sukl tme has shown the bias to. persist evenwith a plot-size of 118 sq. ft., Mahalanobis has expressed the view that it becomes practically negligible forplots of size larger than 40-50 sq. ft. Their results relate to crops grown unevenly by broadcasting the seed or sowing it in irregular lines. I have studied the problem of plot-size in yield surveys on cotton, which is sown by a drill in evenly spaced rows in Central India. The results are summarized here, as they provide for the first time information on this question applicable to drill-sown crops.