Plot size and experimental unit relationship in exploratory experiments

Abstract

Quality of field experiments data dependent upon adequate experimental design. This study investigated the relationship between the size of the basic unit for exploratory experiments and the optimum plot size, and the experiment precision with potato crop. Tuber yield of 24 rows, 144 mounds, were used to arrange experimental units of one, two, three, four, six, eight and 12 mounds. Tuber yield data of different mounds were used to arrange plot sizes with different numbers of basic units. The model CV(x)=A/X B was adjusted, in which CV(x) was the coefficient of variation among plots with different numbers of basic units. Optimum plot size was estimated with the modified maximum curvature method of the function CV(x)=A/X B, allowing completely random design. Experimental precision was estimated though the Hatheway method for different experimental arrangements. Based upon the modification of the maximum curvature method, for a fixed total experimental area, experimental unit size of potato initial experiments affects optimum plot size estimations with the same experimental precision and variable number of treatments.