Plant field trials

Question 1

What can plant field trials be set up to do

Answer 1

Compare the performances of two different plant cultivars under same set of experimental conditioned
Find effect of different environmental conditions on a new cultivar
Determine the effect of different treatments such as fertilisers and pesticides

Question 2

What do reliable and valid field trials require

Answer 2

Selection of treatments used
Number of replicates to be included
Randomisation of treatments

Question 3

Selection of treatments

Answer 3

Each equal sized plot might be given a high, low or no concentration of fertiliser. All other variables will be kept constant - same soil moisture and slope will allow a valid comparison between all of the treated and untreated areas.

Question 4

Number of replicates

Answer 4

A minimum of 3 replicates must be set up to take account of the uncontrolled variability and reduce the effect of this on experimental error - more replicates set up, more reliable the field trial.

Question 5

Randomisation of treatments

Answer 5

The treated and control areas should be scattered randomly across the site of the trial to eliminate the possibility of bias when measuring the effect of the treatment