Size and Shape of Plots and Blocks for Field Experiments on Prosopis Juliflora in Agra Ravines

Abstract

The study was conducted on S years Prosopis juliflora trees planted at 3mx3m spacing with uniform cultural treatments. The data on green weight ~kg/tree) and girth at breast height or g.b h. (cm/tree) of all trees in two different compartments (12x 12 trees and 12xS trees) were ana lysed to find out the optimum plot and block sizes for conducting field experiments. The CY decreased with the increase in plot size up to a plot of 6-8 trees with and without block arrangements in the two components for both, the green weight and g b h. The equation y=axb gave a good fit to the relationship between CV and plot sizes in all cases. Plot shape did not show any consistent effect on CV. However, plots elongated towards slape direction showed less variability. The number of replications and the total number of trees also indicates that a plot of 6-8 trees would be most suitable The block efficiency decreased with increasing block size. The shape of the block had no consistent effect.