Border Effects and Optimum Plot Sizes for Climbing Beans (phaseolus vulgaris) and Maize in Association and Monoculture

Abstract

SUMMARYMinimal competition was observed between adjacent plots of climbing bean varieties and maize in association, but there was a large head border effect which was not uniform among varieties. Head borders of 1 m at each end of the plot are recommended and a net plot size of 11 m2 with 3 replications for climbing bean varieties associated with maize was found to be adequate to detect significant differences in yield of beans of 24% of the mean. For climbing beans in monoculture a somewhat smaller plot (8 m2) would achieve the same level of precision. Larger plot sizes in general were needed for maize comparisons, especially in association.