OPMX Experimental Design
Experimental Design
After you have designed experimental plots yourself, you will learn details about their design now. Each experimental plot used for OPMX research is 50m x 50m in size. Watch the video (1:44-4:40) for more information.
Scientists collected data by structuring experimental plots along a coordinate grid (cf. Figure 7). There is one specific label for each palm tree. Then, palm specific variables (yield, height) can be linked to one specific tree. Large scale variables (e.g., bird activity) were collected over the whole plot. Fine scale variables (e.g., plants, litter decomposition) were measured with the help of five marked 5m x 5m subplots. Variables that are potentially influenced by the area outside of the plot (e.g., yield) were restricted to the central area of the plots (30m x 30m area, containing 10-15 palms). Soil variables (e.g., mineral N) were measured per plot [3].
Possible Hypotheses for an Oil Palm Management Experiment
What are possible hypotheses for such an experiment regarding oil palm management?
Task 5: Go Back to your network of relationships of Module II and the effects of (conventional) oil palm plantations on ecosystem functions of Module I. Based on that, outline at least one justified hypothesis which you could test by using the (two factor) experimental design of OPMX.
