A sampling method for slices of potatoes

Summary The variation in dry matter content and other variables is as a rule large between potato tubers of the same lot. In order to find methods for using small samples this experiment was carried out. From each of 200 tubers 3 slices were cut and used as 3 populations the relationships of which were statistically analysed. The results show that this method makes it possible to estimate the dry matter content in one slice by the value of another slice from the same tuber with fairly good precision. The value of the standard deviation is smaller for the slice samples than the one obtained in investigations of tuber samples. For the same number of observations, therefore, the mean value of the sample is estimated with better precision using slices. On the other hand the differences between the slice and tuber samples must be seriously considered when the results are applied.