Linking South Australian Grower Groups How to design, manage and evaluate effective farm trials.
On Farm Trials - BRRG 2015
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On Farm Trials Manjit Singh Deol, Ph.D. Agronomist - Battle River Research Group Crop Production Workshop 2015
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Transcript of On Farm Trials - BRRG 2015
On Farm TrialsManjit Singh Deol, Ph.D.
Agronomist - Battle River Research Group
Crop Production Workshop 2015
Objective of today’s presentation
• To understand how to design and conduct a good on-farm trial.
Why On-Farm Trials1. Scientists and Industry brings up new things regularly
based on trials conducted under their circumstances. 2. Outcomes that are relevant to Producers under their
specific circumstances3. Farmers assume leadership role (Agron. J. 95:602–613 2003).
4. It is impossible for researchers to work on everything.
Harvest Speed - Soybean Example
Harvest Speed – Soybean Example
Soybean Harvest Speed Trial (2013)
500ac × 2bu × $13 = $13000
What answers you like to find out in your On-Farm Trial
Please Discuss in your group and write down
How to Conduct a Good On-farm Trial• Identify Problem•Select Treatments •Layout experimental Design•Develop a written plan from start to end•Take soil Sample for soil test•Follow all quality control measures•Collect data
Follow 4 Principles of Experimental Design1. Control / Check Treatment2. Replicate (Over Time or Over Space)3. Randomize4. Minimize source of Variations between
treatments
• Data Collection and analysis
Replicated Strip Trial Layout (RCBD)
Head
Lan
d
Border RowRep 1(Block
1)
No-Nitrogen (Control)50 lb Nitrogen / acre
80 lbs Nitrogen / acreRep 2(Block
2)
50 lb Nitrogen / acre80 lbs Nitrogen / acre
No-Nitrogen (Control)Rep 3(Block
3)
50 lb Nitrogen / acreNo-Nitrogen (Control)
80 lbs Nitrogen / acre Border Row
Replication Space and Time
Replication in Space
Rep 1 Control plot
Fungicide
No-Fungicide
Rep-2 Rep-3
• More Brains
Rep-3
Rep-2
Replication Over Time
Rep 1Control plotFungicide
No-Fungicide
Rep-2
Rep-3
Year 2015 and 2016 = 6 reps.
More Replications are insurance for the time spent
Soil Sample Replications: Quality Control• For Example – Divide one soil Sample in two different samples.
• Guarantee excellent learning with some surprizes ex. Boron.
In-field Quality Control
Minimize Variation due to slope
Fungicide Spray No Fungicide
No Fungicide Fungicide Spray
Fungicide Spray
Fungicide Spray
No Fungicide
Control Treatment
Rep 1
Rep 2
Rep 3
Rep 4
Control Treatment
Control Treatment
Control Treatment
No Fungicide
Common Quality Control Problems – in Field• Trial is not replicated or less than 3 reps• Treatment positions unknown• Yield monitor sensor problems or not calibrated•Multiple hybrids or varieties within the trial•Multiple combines used to harvest• Combine width and harvest angle did not align with
treatments• Application errors within the trial ex. no calibration• Trial on top of previous trial
Source: On-Farm Network® Iowa
Flag the Start and End Points of the Strip
Calibrate Weight Wagonand then calibrate yield monitor flow sensor
Source: On-Farm Network® Iowa
Use one Combine in a Trial (Multiple Combines = More Error)
Source: On-Farm Network® Iowa
Use of Aerial Imagery for Quality Control• Visual differences in treatments
• Targeted Sampling or scouting
Using Aerial Imagery for Quality Control
Source: On-Farm Network® Iowa
Application Error due to - Change in Height
Source: On-Farm Network® Iowa
Nitrogen Skip
Treatment Application Tips• Use only one variety in a Trial.• Avoid re-planted areas and apply treatment with the rows.• Replicate each treatment at least three times (preferably 6 or
more). • For aerial applications, leave two untreated passes between
each treatment. • Document the treatment location and mark treatments with
flags. Or Collect as-applied maps of the treatments.• Record the application date, crop stage, and any other
comments
Harvest Tips•Make sure the yield monitor is properly calibrated.•Use only one combine to harvest the trial area.• If possible, harvest the entire trial the same day•Harvest with the rows and not at an angle.•Backup raw yield data from the card before reading
into your mapping software.
General Guidelines•Keep it simple by comparing only two or three
treatments in a trial.
• Three or more replications, by time or space.
•Rest of the management practices must be same.
Data Analysis 1.
http://pnwsteep.wsu.edu/agstatsweb/ (Free On-line Program)
Slect RCBD – Randomized Complete Block Design
2. Contact Battle River Research Group
A Program for Statistical Analysis of Agriculture Experiments
Battle River Research Group - Participation• Help in trial design and Data Analysis• Result publication at BRRG website if:
• Protocol submitted to BRRG 2 months before planting.• Treatment are replicated more than 3 times (in space or yearly), with control treatment• Management Data is collected from current and previous year such as soil test, rain,
inputs applied
• Present trial details and results at annual Crop Production Workshop
