Several spatial analyses of neighboring plots are now available for improving the precision of variety trials. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of three commonly used spatial analyses, a nearest neighbor adjustment (NNA), a least squares smoothing (LSS), and a first-order autoregressive model (AR1), in removing field trends from 157 field pea (Pisum sativum L.) variety trials tested in different growing zones across Alberta, Canada, during 1997 to 2001. All trials were conducted with a randomized complete block (RCB) design with three or four replications. A complete replication (block) was planted in a single field tier. Yield data from each of the 157 trials were subject to the conventional RCB analysis and the three spatial analyses. The LSS, NNA, and AR1 analyses removed an average of 22, 16, and 7% residual variation compared with the RCB analysis, respectively, but the amount of removal by the three analyses varied considerably among the trials. Each spatial analysis achieved more error reduction in 1997 and 1998, where trials contained larger block sizes than in 1999 to 2001, where trials contained smaller block sizes. The efficiency in spatial variation removal was great with large block sizes that involved large numbers of varieties. Furthermore, the LSS and NNA analyses were more effective in such removal than the AR1 analysis.

https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2004.4900

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https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2004.4900

Pea; Varieties; Spatial Analyses; Soil Fertility