The efficiency of pot trials, or trials on undisturbed soil cores, as predictors of crop behaviour in the field

Abstract

This study compares the efficiency of pot trials in the glasshouse or outdoors, and trials on undisturbed soil cores (100 cm deep; 15 cm wide), at simulating field trials. Yields of spring barley (Hordeum vulgate, cv Julia) were measured at sites on seven soil series on 11 farms, and also on undisturbed soil cores from the same sites, and in pot trials using disturbed soil from the same sites, to ascertain how far data from the core and pot trials (simulation procedures) could be used to generate the models, regressions or generalisations that were produced by more laborious and time-consuming field trials. There was no evidence of interactions between the soil series and simulation procedures. Correlations between field yields and yields from simulation procedures showed that the undisturbed cores gave the highest correlation (r = 0.59**) with field yields. This was followed by yields measured in outdoor pot trials (r = 0.36** and 0.67** in two years), and by pot trials in the glasshouse (r = 0.11 and 0.25, neither significant). In regressions of field yield on yields from simulation trials, the intercept on the field yield axis was lowest for cores and highest for pot trials in the glasshouse. Anovar studies on the partitioning of the total variability in trial yields showed that undisturbed cores gave a partitioning of yields more similar to that of field trials than did the pot trials. In some respects, but not all, core trials also gave the most similar regressions of yield on soil properties to those obtained from field trials.The use of undisturbed cores, collected at sites of interest and carried to a central site, combines the advantages of field trials (natural soil structure and environment) with those of pot trials (standard environment, easier management).

Intra-specific hybridization: Generator of genetic diversification and heterosis in Andrographis paniculata Nees. A bridge from extinction to survival

“…On the other hand, it is commonly assumed that pot trial results are closely related to field results (Stefanso and Collis-George, 1974). Moreover, the field pot trial or single observation trials with replicates have been undertaken as a main approach to increase the data reliability, especially in diallel, QTL and heterosis-based studies (Barth et al, 2003;Basunanda, 2010;Schuler et al, 1992;Singh and Chaudhary, 1970), to decrease the experimental errors in plant and soil relation studies (Ogunkunle and Beckett, 1988;Porananond and Searle, 1977), as well as in ecological and environmental pollution studies (Beesley et al, 2010;Healy et al, 2008). A total of 28 seed samples consisting of seven parental accessions and 21 offspring were sterilized by soaking in a 10% NaOCl solution for 10 min in separate Petri dishes with 15 cm diameter.…”

An In Vitro Procedure for Phenotypic Screening of Growth Parameters and Symbiotic Performances in Lotus corniculatus Cultivars Maintained in Different Nutritional Conditions

“…One of the problems hampering this path is represented by the difficulty to evaluate improved traits in field conditions and one main approach is to study crop performances in conditions that are as close as possible to the field. Pot trials using disturbed/undisturbed soil or inert material have been often used as a preliminary tool in many studies on soil fertility and plant growth [40]. The relatively small volume of soil/inert material in pots compared to the larger rooting volume in the field is convenient for testing effects of nutrients and water components [41,42].…”