Strip Plot Design

• sometimes called split-block design*

• suited for a two-factor experiment in which
greater precision is desired for the interaction

Strip Plot Design effect compared to the main effects

• factors require large plots and difficult to
apply to small plots

AGR 112 – Methods of Crop Research | Strip Plot 1 AGR 112 – Methods of Crop Research | Strip Plot 2

Strip Plot Design Randomization and Layout

Three sizes of experimental units • For each block, divide the area into a row strips
and randomly assign the levels of Factor A
• Row strip plot for the first factor ~ the row • For each block, divide the area into b column
factor strips and randomly assign the levels of Factor
B
• Column strip plot for the second factor ~ the
column factor
NOTE: Randomization into row strips is
• Interaction plot for the interaction between independent of randomization into column
the two factors strips is independent

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 Example H1 H2 H3 H2 H1 H3
An experiment on sugarcane laid out in V2 V3
strip-plot in RCBD was conducted using
four cooperator farms as blocks. Let V3 V1
variety be the row factor A with 3 levels V1 V2
(V1, V2 and V3) and harvest age be the
column factor with 3 levels (H1, H2 and Block 1 Block 2
H3).
H3 H1 H2 H1 H3 H2

Row factor – variety (3) V1 V2

Column factor – harvest age(3) V3 V1
Blocking factor – farms(4) V2 V3
Block 3 Block 4
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Linear Model Linear Model

Yijk     j  i   ij  k   jk  ()ik  ijk k  effect of the k th level of B (column factor)
where  jk  random error associated with the column
  general mean strip given the k th level of B in the jth block
 j  effect of the jth block ()ik  interaction effect of the ith level of A
i  effect of the ith level of A(row factor) and the k th level of B
 ij  random error associated with the row strip ijk  random error associated with the interaction
plot assigned to the ith level of A and k th level
given the ith level of A in the jth block
of B in the jth block

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 Example Anova Table

Factor A Factor B Block Source of df SS MS Fc

(Variety) (Harvest Age) Variation
1 2 3 4
Block r–1 RSS MSR MSR/MSEa
A1 B1 56 45 43 46
B2 60 50 45 48 A a–1 ASS MSA MSA/MSEa
B3 66 57 50 50 Error (a) (r-1)(a-1) EaSS MSEa
A2 B1 65 61 60 63
B b–1 BSS MSB MSB/MSEb
B2 60 58 56 60
B3 53 53 48 55 Error (b) (r-1)(b-1) EbSS MSEb
A3 B1 60 61 50 53 AxB (a-1)(b-1) ABSS MSAB MSAB/MSEc
B2 62 68 67 60
Error (c) (r-1)(a-1)(b-1) EcSS MSEc
B3 73 77 77 65
Total abr - 1 TSS

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Computations Computations
To compute Error(a) SS, use the Variety  Block Totals

Blocks
Harvest Block Variety x Variety
Variety 1 2 3 4 Variety Totals
Age Harvest Age
(Factor A) 1 2 3 4 V1 182 152 138 144 616
(Factor B) Totals
V2 178 172 164 178 692
H1 56 45 43 46 190 V3 195 206 194 178 773
V1 H2 60 50 45 48 203 Block Totals 555 530 496 500 2081
H3 66 57 50 50 223
H1 65 61 60 63 249 To compute Error(a) SS, use the Harvest Age  Block Totals
V2 H2 60 58 56 60 234
H3 53 53 48 55 209 Harvest Age Harvest Age
H1 60 61 50 53 224 Blocks Totals
V3 H2 62 68 67 60 257 H1 181 167 153 162 501
H3 73 77 77 65 292 H2 182 176 168 168 526
Block Totals 555 530 496 500 2081 H3 192 187 175 170 554
Block Totals 555 530 496 500 2081

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 Computations Example: ANOVA Strip Plot
(2081)2
Correction Factor(CF)   120,293.36
36
 2 2 2 2
TSS  56  45  43  ...  65  CF  2627.64 
SV df SS MS Fc p-value
BlockSS 
 5552  5302  4962  5002   CF  255.64
9 Farm 3 255.64 85.21
Variety SS 
 616 2
 6922  7732   CF  1027.39 Variety (A) 2 1027.39 513.69 10.19 0.011
12
 182 2
 1522  ...  1782  Error(a) 6 302.61 50.44
EaSS   CF  VarietySS  BlockSS  302.61
3 Harvest Age (B) 2 155.06 77.53 14.41 0.005
Harvest Age SS 
 663 2
 6942  7242   CF  155.06
12 Error(b) 6 32.28 5.38

EbSS 
 1812  1672  ...  1702   CF  BlockSS  Harvest Age SS  32.28 AxB 4 765.44 191.36 25.74 0.000
3
 190 2
 2032  ...  2922   CF  Variety SS  Harvest Age SS  765.44 * Error (c) 12 89.22 7.43
Variety  Harvest Age SS 
4 Total 35 2627.64
EcSS  TSS  (all other SS's)  89.22
*use 2-way tables

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Example: Using STAR Interaction: Interpretation

Variety  Harvest Age is significant. To look closely at
the interaction,
V1 and V3 showed higher yields
when harvested much later.
V2 on the other hand, showed
decreased yield if harvested.
Best harvesting age for V1 and
V3 is Harvest age 3 while that
for V2 is Harvest Age 1.

15
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 Mean Comparison Mean Comparison

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Standard Error of Treatment Means Standard Error of Treatment Means

A means B means 7.43

A  B means  se(Yi.k )   1.36
MSEa MSEb 4
se(Yi ..)  se(Y..k ) 
br ar

MSEc
A  B means  se(Yi.k ) 
r

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 Standard Error of Treatment Means Sequential Tests
• First test the AB interaction
Differences between Differences between • If it is significant:
2 A means 2 B means • the main effects have no meaning
even if they test significant.
2MSEa 2MSEb • Summarize in a two-way table of AB
br ar
means
• If AB interaction is not significant
• Look at the significance of the main
Differences between 2 A means effects
• Summarize in one-way tables of
at the same level of B means for factors with significant
main effects
2[(b  1)MSEc  MSEa ]
br
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