To evaluate different options, data from Alabama corn and wheat variety tests were analyzed over several years and locations. For corn, varieties were selected and yields checked for 1992 to 1996 across six locations. Yields of the selected varieties were then recorded for each year. Yields of the selected varieties in 1992 were then recorded for each criterion. This process was repeated for each of the six locations over five years, and for wheat it was repeated for five locations over seven years.
Results indicate that different selection criteria work best for wheat and corn.
For wheat, varieties selected on the basis of the three-year location average yielded 3.8 bushels per acre more than those selected from the results of the previous year only at that location. Corn Wheat 3-year regional average 113. 47.6 3-year location average 117. 7 49.3 1-year location results 118. In summary, use of test results from the previous year only at a given location was the best variety selection criterion for corn, while the three-year location average was best for wheat.