Experimental design assignment
A microbiologist would like to compare four media each replicated five times, which in the
final analysis help him identify the best media for bacterial growth
The experiment was conducted in the laboratory (homogeneous condition). The data on
numbers of colony growth was collected and summarized as in following table
Replication
Medium I II III IV V Total(Ti) mean
M1 12 15 16 20 13 76 15.2
M2 10 9 11 15 10 55 11
M3 15 18 17 18 14 82 16.2
M4 9 8 7 8 6 38 7.6
Grand Total 251
Based data given above calculate the following
1. Calculate ANOVA and summarize in the form of table
2. Standard errors of treatment means
3. Standard error of differences SE(d)
4. Critical difference Least significant difference (LSD)
5. Rank the mean based on calculated (LSD)
6. CV(%)
7. Finally give brief conclusion and reasonable recommendation
Answer
Grand total (GT) = sum of all observations for a particular observations
GT = 76 + 55 + 82+38 = 251
Correction factor (C.F.) = (GT)2 ∕ rt = where, r = number of replication and t = number of
treatment
Correction factor (C.F.) = 2512 /5*4
=3150.05
Total sum of squares (Total SS) = SS of each observation – C.F.
Total SS = ∑∑Xij 2 –C.F.
Total SS = (12)2 + (15)2 + … + (6)2 – 3150.05
= 322.95
Sum squares of treatment (SSt)
(SSt) = ∑(Ti2)/r – C.F
(SSt) = 762 + 55 2 + 822+ 382 – 3150.05
=243.75
Sum squares of error (SSE)
(SSE) = Total SS - SSt
= 322.95 - 243.35
= 79.2
Mean square of treatment,
MSt = SSt/(t-1)
= 243.35/3 = 81.25
Mean square of error,
MSE = SSE/t(r-1)
=79.6/16= 4.95
F-calculated for treatment,
F-cal = MSt/MSE
= 81.12/4.96 = 16.41
Table: - Analysis of variance for CRD with four treatments and of five repeats
SUMMARY
Groups Count Sum Average Variance
M1 5 76 15.2 9.7
M2 5 55 11 5.5
M3 5 82 16.4 3.3
M4 5 38 7.6 1.3
ANOVA
Source of
Variation SS df MS F-cal P-value F crit
16.414141 3.86E- 3.23887
Treatment 243.75 3 81.25 4 05 2
Error 79.2 16 4.95
Total 322.95 19
Standard error of mean,
SE (m) =
√ MS E
ri
= 0.99
Standard error of differences, SE(d),
SE (d) =
√ 2 MS E
r
= 1.4
Critical difference, CD or Least significant difference (LSD)
LSD = SE (d) x t-at 0.05
= 1.4 x 1.745 = 2.44
Ranking the means based on LSD:
M3 > M1 > M2 > M4
Based on LSD value we can assign different letter for each mean
7.6 c 11b 15.2a 16.4a
Coefficient of variation (CV%)
Coefficient of variation (CV%) = √ MS E *100
GM
Conclusion and Recommendation:
Based on the ANOVA results, there is a significant difference in bacterial growth among the
four media (F-ratio = 16.41, p < 0.05). The media M3 has the highest mean number of
colony growth, followed by M1, M2, and M4. The LSD value of 2.44 indicates that a
difference in means must be at least this large to be considered significant at a 95%
confidence level. Therefore, it is recommended to use medium M3 for bacterial growth as it
showed the highest mean number of colony growth and had a significant difference
compared to other media.
