Effect of nutrients and substratum on root characteristics in rice varieties

Root length and root-shoot ratio of two modern and two local varieties of rice increased significantly with decreasing strength of nutrient solution. Plant height and root length in rice is inversely related to increasing nutrient deficiency. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) of roots was significantly higher in sand: soil substratum with nutrient solution compared to liquid nutrient culture, indicating the importance of substratum for increasing exchange sites of ions. Root growth and CEC of roots are important physiological traits for selection of low nutrient requiring cultivars.