In order to identify sources of drought resistance, it is necessary to develop screening methods that are simple and reproducible under the target environment conditions. Therefore, management of drought-screening nurseries requires a careful analysis of likely sources of non-genetic variation among plots, replications and repeated experiments and establishing procedures for minimizing these factors.
Several field screening methods have been used successfully to screen for drought resistance, including rain fed environment, rainout shelters greenhouse experiment, line-source sprinkler irrigation and drip irrigation.