Root Morphological Characteristics of Five Rice Genotypes with Different Nitrogen Use Efficiency
Ravi Saini
Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
K. M. Manjaiah *
Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
Kapil A. Chobhe
Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
Dhandapani Raju
Division of Plant Physiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
Rajeev Ranjan
Division of Agricultural Physics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
R. S. Bana
Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
Asheesh Kumar
Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
Kalyani V. Patil
Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
While nitrogen (N) uptake in rice has been extensively studied, the influence of root morphology on this process is not fully elucidated. This study explores the root morphological characteristics and N uptake of five diverse rice genotypes under different N sources, including novel slow-release nanoclay polymer/biopolymer composite (NCPC/NCBPC) fertilizers. A greenhouse experiment was conducted using five diverse rice genotypes (Swarna, Pusa Basmati-1, Pusa-44, MTU1010 and Nagina-22) with five N treatments (T1- control (without N fertilizer), T2- 100% RDF of N through urea, T3- 75% RDF of N through urea loaded NCPC, T4- 75% RDF of N through urea loaded NCBPC-I (NCBPC prepared with wheat flour), T5- 75% RDF of N through urea loaded NCBPC-II (NCBPC prepared with maida)). The results of the study revealed that maximum overall root growth was recorded under Pusa Basmati-1 followed by Swarna, MTU 1010, Nagina-22 and Pusa-44. Among the N treatment, maximum root growth and N uptake was recorded under NCPC treatment followed by NCBPC-II, NCBPC-I, urea and control. Thus, the study reveals significant variations in root traits among genotypes and N treatments, with notable improvements observed under NCPC and NCBPC based N treatments.
Keywords: Root morphology, slow-release fertilizers, nano clay polymer composites, nitrogen uptake, genotypes