Soil moisture depletion pattern in different dryland rice plant types was studied under field conditions. Moisture depletion pattern in the tall type (NCS 372) was 32.0, 25.4 and 43.0 per cent more form 0 to 10, 10 to 20 and 20 to 30 cm soil zones respectively than the dwarf one (cv DJ.5). Comparison between the deep (cv. Dhani) and the shallow rooted (cv. Bendi) types indicates that the former extracted 30.2 and 36.0 per cent mositure more from 10 to 20 and 20 to 30 cm soil zones respectively than the latter. Deep rootedness of a variety was found to be associated with extraction of soil water from deeper soil horizons.
