Gotu, ButteAlemu, Kinfemichael2022-01-272023-11-092022-01-272023-11-092000-06http://10.90.10.223:4000/handle/123456789/29753Adequate characterization of soil heterogeneicy' of an experimental site is a good gu,id e and at times even a prerequisite to choose a good experimentation technique. Based on data from a uniformity trial on wheat, soil fertility pattern of an experimental farm was studied using the techniques of uniformity trials and spatial autocorrelation analysis. From the soil productivity contour map, a uni-directional fertility gradient (from left to right) was observed on fields using broadcast sowing method than using row plantation method. The same result was a/so confirmed using the mean square between stripes method. The distribution of fertile plots was found to be relatively heterogeneous for row planted fields than for broadcast sown fields. The degree of adjacent plot correlation between yield of plots using broadcast sowing method was relatively higher than for row plantation method as measured by Smith 's coefficient of heterogeneity indicating that the variability in yield due to any given plot size does also depend on crop geometry (type of plantation method). Both square and rectangular plots were equally efficient in reducing the error variance. A plot size of 8 to 12 m2 was found to be optimum on both plantation methods. The Moran's, I, and Geary's, c, coefficients were used to test against spatial autocorrelation between yields of neighbOring experimental plots. For all the three cases considered to represent 'neighborhood' between plots, namely, Bishop's case, Rook's case and Queen's case, both tests confirmed that there is a significant spatial autocorrelation between neighboring plots using broadcast sowing method. For row planted fields, the observed spatial autocorrelation became insignificant for a plot size 30 m2 with bishop's case, 4 m2 with rook's case (using Moran's I), and 12 m2 with queens case (using Moran 's I).enApplication of Spatial Statistical MethodsThesis