GUIDELINES FOR IMPROVED AGRONOMIC MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC-EVALUATION OF CROP-ROTATION TRIALS IN MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENTS

This paper offers guidelines for successful crop rotation trials deriv ed from experience at ICARDA in the period 1980-1990. Emphasis is plac ed on the need to determine realistically the likelihood of the long-t erm, successful completion of the trial and the importance of consider ing carefully experimental design criteria prior to trial establishmen t. This involves assessment of what primary and secondary information to collect for the trial, and over what duration, in order to ensure a n appropriate return for the large investment generally undertaken in any crop rotation trial.