Author Instructions for Variety Trials

Crop Management accepts variety trial results subject to review for consistency of format and results.

Acceptable Crops: Currently, we are accepting submissions of trial results for the following crops: alfalfa, corn grain, corn silage, cotton, grain sorghum, soybeans, and wheat.

Harvest Year: Results are currently accepted for harvests taken in 2001 or later.

Open Entry Trials: Only trials that have open entry policies are accepted for publication.

Replication Policies: Tests may be submitted in one of two categories and must be identified as such:

(1) Trials replicated within a site;

(2) Trials replicated across sites.
Data combined across replicated tests will not be accepted. If a special test is run for a specific characteristic (such as Roundup-ready, potato-leafhopper resistant, etc.) that test should be identified as such and is considered a separate test, even if it is performed at the same site as another test.

Data Analysis: Statistical parameters to be submitted with each test must consist of mean, LSD (at level specified by submitter), CV, and F test. Results will be accepted regardless of values of statistical parameters. Variety test results should not be submitted for publication if there is any biological or physical variable that masks entry differences. This judgment should be at the discretion of the submitter, however the associate editor may ask for explanation of anomalies in results and/or statistics.

Publication Date: Every attempt will be made to publish trial results within 1 to 3 weeks of acceptance. Please submit results accordingly. However, submissions are permissible after that time.

Spreadsheet Preparation

Spreadsheet Formatting: Submissions must be entirely electronic. Results must be submitted in the Excel templates for respective crops, downloadable below. Microsoft Excel for Windows is the only file format accepted for variety trial result entry.

Each template includes a common format for site/trial description and columns with data to be entered in the order and form indicated. Authors should make an effort to use a standard and consistent spelling of the hybrid/variety name.

Use only one workbook per crop per state. If multiple trials exist for a crop, add worksheets to the workbook. Add as many spreadsheets as needed before beginning to enter any data. This can be done easily by the following steps:
(1) Select the entire (blank) spreadsheet;
(2) On the Edit menu, click Move or Copy Sheet;
(3) Select the Create a copy check box in the popup window.

If you do not have them, the longitude and latitude for a trial site can be located from the zip code from the U.S. Census website.

Submission Procedure: Follow the submission procedure for electronic submission. The accompanying email should contain the items recommended in the submission procedure. The 4 to 5 sentence summary should be a statement of any factors that affected variety/hybrid performance, e.g., drought, flooding, disease, insects occurrence and severity or may simply state that growing conditions were excellent.

Examples, Templates and Field Definitions

Committee Members (Technical and Associate Editors)

Alfalfa: Dan Undersander (Chair) djunders@facstaff.wisc.edu 

Corn: Len Nelson - 402.472.1489 lnelson1@unl.edu

Corn Silage: William J Cox - 607.255.1758 wjc3@cornell.edu

Cotton: Bill Meredith - 662.686.5322 wmeredith@ars.usda.gov

Sorghum: Shawn Conley - 573.882.0618 conleysp@missouri.edu

Soybeans: Ralph Esgar - 217.333.1194 r-esgar@uiuc.edu

Wheat: Kraig Roozeboom - kraig@ksu.edu