ESTABLISHMENT OF RHIZOTRON FOR IN-SITU MONITORING OF ROOT-GROWTH

To study the root-growth behaviour of crops crops for devising environ mentally sound strategies for efficient input-use and high yields, a r hizotron facility was established at Ludhiana for in-situ monitoring o f root-growth dynamics. It consists of 16 rhizotron chambers and was d eveloped by using indigenous design and materials, and is the first of its kind in India. Each rhizotron cell has 1.2 m wide and 2.4 m deep viewing-window, specifically designed to study root growth, nutrient a cid water dynamics in field crops raised on deep alluvial soils, Besid es root-growth monitoring, it has a provision of metered water supply, soil-water measurement and manually operated mobile rain shelter and hence can be used as lysimeter.