Selection in Early Generations of Dried Peas, Pisum sativum L. III. Plot Size and Plot Type

Investigations were carried out to study the effect of different plot sizes and plot types on the performance of peas and to determine plot size and plot type combinations suitable for the reliable evaluation of varietal yield performance realized in commercial stands of pea crops. Four pea varieties were tested in 1981 and 1982 in combinations of plot sizes ranging from 0.25 m2 to 19.50 in2 with plot types either unbordered, bordered with faba beans, surrounded with perforated plastic foil or only central sections of plots harvested (net plots). With decreasing plot size the performance mean as well as the error variance of grain yield and thousand grain weight increased disproportionately. Thus, changes in grain yield were much higher than those for thousand grain weight. The four varieties tested reacted differently to changing plot sizes and as a result, highly significant variety × plot size interactions were found. Although overestimation of grain yield in small plots could be strongly reduced by bordering the plots with faba beans or surrounding them with plastic foil, their suitibility for yield testing was limited by highly significant variety × plot type interactions. Compared to the largest net plot (15 m²) reliable results were still obtained with plot sizes larger than 6.5 m², no matter whether edge effects were eliminated or not. If only a small quantity of seed is available, plots may be reduced even to 1.00 m², if surrounded by plastic foil. The results presented in peas were compared to those in other crops and discussed concerning their relevance for variety testing as well as for selection of grain yield in early generations.