The available sources of literature on agricultural statistics are highly technical in character and so diverse that it becomes difficult to locate required information in one place. Moreover, most of the statistics literature is replete with mathematical formulae with explanations in mathematical terms but not provided with solved examples.

A genuine need for the exposition of statistical techniques in agricultural sciences has been, therefore felt and a practical guide on agricultural statistics has been composed for the benefit of research workers, University teachers and concerned personnel who can easily follow the examples and analyse ones own data. It has been provided with up-to-date information in a comprehensive way, dealing with all practical aspects and described as briefly as possible with illustrative examples rather than hypothetical data.

The book covers general principles; major design of experiments along with their advantages and disadvantages; biometrical genetics-linkage; response curve along with economic optima and production function, plant breeding trials; sampling; long-term, rotation and crop-cutting experiments. Wherever appropriate figures, tables, practical examples and analysis have been incorporated with inferences.

Authors have attempted to present each chapter in an easily understandable and readable manner. Their emphasis has been to use more statistical techniques to cope with a wider range of problems, while dealing with various numerical data and to apply them in practical situations. Their attempt is to clarify some of the more difficult concepts leading to a particular statistical approach and in an economic fashion in certain cases. They have great pleasure in presenting this volume for the benefit of those who are interested in this subject.