A Bertalanffy-Richards split-plot design model and analysis
David Ikwuoche John1, Asiribo Osebekwin Ebenezer2, Dikko Hussaini Garba3.
This research presents a class of nonlinear split plot design (SPD) model where the mean function of
the SPD model is not linearizable. This was done by fitting intrinsically nonlinear split-plot design
(INSPD) model using Bertalanffy-Richards function. Estimated Generalized Least Square (EGLS)
technique based on Gauss-Newton with Taylor series expansion by minimizing the model objective
function was used for estimating the fitted INSPD model parameters. The variance components for the
whole plot and subplot random effects are estimated using Restricted Maximum Likelihood Estimation
(REML) and Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) techniques. These techniques are established and
paralleled with Ordinary Least Square (OLS) technique for a balanced 31 x 42 replicated mixed Level
SPD data from Institute of Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The adequacy of the
estimated INSPD model parameters for the EGLS and OLS are compared using four median adequacy
measures. They are resistant coefficient of determination, resistant prediction coefficient of
determination, resistant modeling efficiency statistic, and median square error prediction statistic. Also,
Akaike’s information criterion, corrected Akaike’s information criterion, and Bayesian information
criterion are used to select the best parameter estimation technique. The results obtained showed that
the Bertalanffy-Richards SPD model via EGLS-REML fitted model is a good fit that is adequate, stable
and reliable for prediction compared to EGLS-MLE and OLS techniques.
Affiliation:
- Federal University Wukari, Nigeria
- Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria
- Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria
Download this article (This article has been downloaded 16 time(s))