FieldSimR is an R package for simulating plot data in multi-environment field trials with one or more traits. Its core function generates plot errors that capture:
- spatial trend,
- random error (noise), and
- extraneous variation.
Spatial trend is simulated using bivariate interpolation or a separable first order autoregressive (AR1) process. Random error is simulated using an independent process. Extraneous variation is simulated using random or zig-zag ordering between neighbouring columns and/or rows. The three error components are combined at a user-defined ratio.
Phenotypes can be generated by combining the plot errors with genetic values (e.g., true, simulated, or predicted). FieldSimR provides wrapper functions to simulate correlated genetic values that capture genotype-by-environment (GxE) interaction with the R package AlphaSimR.