Which of the following is a characteristic of a well-designed field trial?

A characteristic of a well-designed field trial is that it includes replicated strips. Replication is crucial in experimental design because it minimizes the effects of variability in environmental conditions and allows for more reliable statistical analysis. By having multiple plots that are treated in the same way, researchers can better ascertain the effects of treatment and reduce the likelihood that results are due to random chance or external factors.

Replication helps to increase the validity and reliability of the results. If the trial only includes a single strip of treatment, it may not account for variability within the field, and it could lead to skewed results that do not accurately reflect the treatment’s performance. Non-replicated trials could also result in misleading conclusions that cannot be confidently generalized to the broader population. Thus, incorporating replication in field trials improves the robustness of the findings, making it a key characteristic of effective experimental design.