TITLE:
Root Characters of Maize as Influenced by Drip Fertigation Levels
AUTHORS:
Anitta Fanish Sundara Raj, Purushothaman Muthukrishnan, Pachamuthu Ayyadurai
KEYWORDS:
Drip Fertigation; Maize Based Intercropping System; Root Spread; Root Dry Weight
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.4 No.2,
February
27,
2013
ABSTRACT: The efficient use of water by modern irrigation systems is becoming increasingly important in arid and semi-arid regions with limited water resources. Field experiments were conducted during 2008-2010 to study the effect of drip fertigation with water soluble fertilizer on root growth of maize under maize based intercropping system. The experiment was laid out in strip plot design with three replications. The treatment consists of nine fertigation levels in main plots and four inter crops in sub plots. Root spread and root dry mass were increased under drip fertigation practices while rooting depth was more under surface irrigation. Drip fertigation with water soluble fertilizer improved the root system by inducing new secondary roots which are succulent and actively involved in physiological responses. Drip fertigation has pronounced effect on the root architecture especially in the production of highly fibrous root system.