Relative efficiency of replicated and non-replicated statistical designs in quantifying the variations in maize grain yield.

Two-year field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Egypt, during the two successive summer seasons of 2018 and 2019. The main aim was to evaluate the relative efficiency of two groups of experimental designs in quantifying the variations in maize grain yield as influenced by sowing date (SD), plant density (PD) and phosphorous (P) fertilization, and their interactions. The single hybrid Giza 168 maize (Zea mays, L.) cultivar was used during both seasons. The experimental designs under evaluation included replicated (RCBD, SPD, SSPD and 3-DLD), in three replications, and nonreplicated (one-rep without and with center points, RCCD and PRCCD) designs. The 3-DLD design was more efficient, within the replicated group, than the RCBD (reference design) with relative efficiency of 3.68. The SPD and SSPD had higher relative efficiencies at the sub-plot and sub sub-plot levels compared to RCBD. Within the non-replicated designs, the one-rep with center points, RCCD and PRCCD were more efficient than one-rep without center points (reference design) in discriminating the more important factors affecting grain yield in maize cultivar Giza 168. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]