Difference squares for OBIBDs
For each initial block, set up a k by k square, in which the entries are the differences (in the appropriate number system), between the k entries in the first treatment set and the k entries in the second treatment set. The entries on the diagonal comprise the differences between the first and second treatments at a plot, whereas the off-diagonal differences comprise the differences between first and second treatments within the block. These correspond (respectively) to the two parts of the left-hand side of the matrix equation:
nij- ni0n'j0 = 0, as given in the OBIBD definition
Thus if s differences occur on the diagonal, not necessarily an equal number of times, then they must occur k times as often in the squares all told (i.e. including the diagonal).

For example, an OBIBD(9,24,8,3,2;2) is given by the initial blocks (I,1; 0,7; 4,6), (1,5; 7,2; 6,3) (5,I; 2,0; 3,4), mod 8, where I is an invariant treatment. The difference squares are:

   1  7  6      5  2  3      I  0  4
 I  -I  -I  -I    1  4  1  3    5  I  3  7
 0  1  7  6    7  6  3  4    2  I  6  2
 4  5  3  2    6  7  4  5    3  I  5  1

Each of the values 1-7, together with I and -I, occurs once on the diagonal, and thrice overall.