The effect of varying the number of drills per plot and the amount of replication on the efficiency of potato yield trials

Summary

The effect on yield trials of altering plot size was examined by investigating plots with varying numbers of drills (each with six tubers) planted. No evidence was found of the ware yield per drill being affected by different plot sizes nor any effect attributable to neighbouring drills, whether these were planted with another clone or left unplanted. Increasing the number of drills per plot did increase the precision of the estimated clone means as did, of course, increasing the number of replicates. It appeared, however, that increasing the number of replicates was a more efficient way to increase precision. Thus it was concluded that the most efficient utilization of limited planting space was to grow single drill plots with maximum replication.