Statistical Guides: On-Farm Trials – Some Biometric Guidelines
Available Languages:
Available Languages:
Dated: March 1998
Author: Statistical Services Centre
A booklet giving guidance on how to design and conduct an on-farm experiment with the participation of farmers. Includes information about setting objectives, selecting farms to involve, choosing treatments and units, measurements and analysis of results. From the introduction:"Farmer-participatory research trials have rapidly gained popularity in the past few years with due consideration being given to the knowledge, problems and priorities of farming families. The move towards participatory on-farm research means that many researchers, such as breeders and agronomists, who have been trained in techniques of on-station research, are now under pressure to move on-farm. It is therefore perhaps not surprising that the design of such trials has, too often, resulted in miniaturised research institute experiments. Conditions for on-farm trials are typically less controlled than those for research institute fields, and this means that more thoughtful designs are needed. This booklet concentrates primarily on providing guidelines on aspects of the design and analysis of on-farm trials that are different from on-station research. It is concerned primarily with experiments where the farmer has considerable involvement – and not situations where the farmer’s only participation is by providing land. Equally, it does not include experiments that are really just demonstrations. You should therefore ask yourself whether your experiment (a) involves the farmer in design, management or assessment, (b) seeks to address unanswered questions and (c) is an experiment, i.e. it involves planned changes."Part of a series of statistical guides by The University of Reading Statistical Services Centre, which were originally written as part of a contract with DFID to give guidance to research and support staff working on DFID Natural Resources projects. They provide guidelines for staff involved in the development and presentation of research projects. The guidelines are intended to help researchers to identify their biometric or statistical needs.
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OnFarmTrials.pdf
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