Resumen

CABRAL ANTUNEZ, Claudia Carolina et al. Sample size to assess caterpillars population density in soybean field. Investig. Agrar. [online]. 2016, vol.18, n.2, pp.70-76. ISSN 2305-0683.  https://doi.org/10.18004/investig.agrar.2016.diciembre.70-76.

Sampling is one of the basis for decision-making to control pests in soybean crops. Thus, to determine the most appropriate sampling plan is to define the sampling unit, the sampling method and sample size for the quantification of insect population. The objective of the study was to estimate the sample size to measure caterpillar species population density, with varying methods of collection, of altitude and of soybean cultivars. Samples were taken from 100 soybean fields, located in nine districts in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul, during three growing seasons (2010/2011, 2011/2012, 2012/2013). In each field, 30 points separated by 20 meters each were marked off. At each point caterpillars of the species Chrysodeixis includens, Anticarsia gemmatalis and Rachiplusia nu were collected through the wide-beating cloth-methods and entomological network, totaling 6,000 units. The sample size (number of points) to determine the density of tracks varies with the method of collection and population density. Using the wide-beating cloth method for soybean caterpillars collection for an estimation error (confidence interval amplitude) equal to two caterpillars and population density in the class> 2 caterpillars. m-2, the sample size is 47, 78 and 18, respectively, for the C. includens, A. gemmatalis and Rachiplusia nu species, as for the entomological network method, sample sizes are 19 and 43 for the C. includens e A. gemmatalis species. The study shows that sample size (number of points) to determine caterpillars population density varies according to, collection method, altitude, soybean cultivars and population density.

Palabras clave : Glycine max; sampling; resampling; sample dimension.

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