Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 October 2008
The important interactions in a 2-year maize trial were population × location, location × year and population × year × location, and our analyses suggest that eight locations, two years and three replications will allow the detection of a 5% differential in yield. The most effective way of obtaining the true value of a variety is by increasing the number of years, and the least effective is by increasing the number of replications. Since locations can be effectively substituted for years, increasing the number of locations will expedite the release of improved cultivars.