Agronomic management and economic interpretation of small plot crop rotation trials in northern Syria
1989
Keatinge, J.D.H. | Somel, K. (ICARDA, Aleppo (Syria))
The experiences gained in the execution of two sets of crop rotation trials over six years are described. Two sets of linked rotation trials were undertaken to determine the most economic and biologically sustainable crop rotations for the dry areas of northern Syria, to examine whether farmers should apply nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers to rotations, and to compare feed and forage legumes and mixtures with barley in rotation with barley as potential substitutes for fallow or as a break crop in continuous barley. Stress is laid on the need to carefully consider experimental design criteria prior to trial establishment to ensure an appropriate return for the large long term investment undertaken in a crop rotation trial. Design considerations include determination of how economic fluctuations over time are to be considered, to decide what is the scale of the target group for which research recommendations are finally intended to collect appropriate price and cost supporting data to select an appropriate number and complexity of treatments, and to ensure that plot size, agronomic management, and experimental scale are well within the scope of available human and mechanical resources
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