TEXTBOOK OF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS

A comprehensive guide in basic statistics for agricultural research

Authors

Dr. Pratheesh P. Gopinath

Dr. Manju Mary Paul

Dr. Adarsh V.S.

Mohammed Hisham M.

Published

June 26, 2026

Welcome

Welcome to the Textbook of Agricultural Statistics, a comprehensive and accessible guide to statistical methods for agricultural research, prepared by the Department of Agricultural Statistics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University.

Agricultural research depends on statistics at every stage, from designing a field experiment to analysing its data and drawing sound conclusions from the results. Yet for many students and researchers in agriculture and allied sciences, statistics remains an intimidating subject, more often taught in the language of mathematicians than in one suited to agronomists, plant breeders, and soil scientists. This book was written to close that gap.

Each chapter builds statistical concepts from first principles, using examples drawn directly from agricultural research, crop yields, field trials, and varietal comparisons, so that the underlying ideas connect naturally with the reader’s own discipline. Concepts are developed through worked examples and clear visual explanations rather than abstract derivation, with as much attention given to the reasoning behind each method as to its mechanics.

While the book is designed primarily for undergraduate students of agriculture and allied sciences, its structured approach, worked examples, and applied focus make it equally useful for postgraduate students, field researchers, and anyone seeking a working understanding of statistics in an agricultural context.

Whether you are encountering statistics for the first time or returning to revisit its foundations, we hope this book serves as a dependable companion, one that makes the subject not only understandable, but genuinely useful in your work.

Acknowledgements

This book is the result of collaborative efforts among dedicated teachers and statisticians, but the majority of the reviewing, editing, and refinement has been inspired and shaped by the students.
For two years, this book was made available online on the MeLON (Module for eLearning and Online Notes) platform of the College of Agriculture, Vellayani. During this time, students provided valuable feedback, pointed out areas for improvement, and offered insights that greatly enhanced the quality and clarity of the content. We are sincerely grateful to all the students whose suggestions and input played a key role in the development of this textbook.

We would also like to thank the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, for fostering an environment that encourages learning, growth, and the sharing of ideas.

Note from the Publisher

This textbook is published by PAPAYA, the academic publishing division of Statoberry LLP. PAPAYA is dedicated to producing rigorous, well-designed educational resources for the agricultural research community, and to keeping foundational knowledge freely accessible wherever possible.

In keeping with this commitment, the online edition of this book is made available free of charge as part of our open-access initiative. For more information about this publication, or to explore other titles from this division, please visit PAPAYA.