Without appropriate data and a method to measure treatment differences, your trial will have little value or could lead to inaccurate conclusions. Remember, the more you plan and document, the greater confidence you can have in your results. To be valid, yield measurements must be taken from comparable areas in each treatment plot. You must measure the size of the harvest area. These distances are then multiplied by the width of the combine header to arrive at the harvested area.
Harvested area is used to calculate yield per acre.
An example of yield calculation is shown in the data analysis section of this manual. Harvest the middle portion of each treatment plot. This assures that the yields are not affected by a condition bordering the treatment. Yields can be measured with a local truck scale, a weigh wagon, or using the barrel method. Harvest equipment must be completely empty and clean before each treatment is harvested.