ROOT DEVELOPMENT AND MOISTURE USE IN WHEAT (TRITICUM-AESTIVUM) AND BARLEY (HORDEUM-VULGARE) AS INFLUENCED BY CROP VARIETY AND NITROGEN

Root development of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Pool.) and barely (Hordeum vulgare L. sensu lato) and its consequent effect o n moisture use, yield and moisture-use efficiency under the influence of varieties and nitrogen levels was studied at Kanpur, during 1986-87 and 1987-88 under moisture-scarce conditions on light-textured alluvi um soil. In wheat, except root depth, variety 'K 78' showed better roo t development, higher moisture extraction, yield and moisture-use effi ciency than the other varieties. In barley, best development of roots in respect of depth, number of primary roots, moisture use, yield and moisture-use efficiency was observed in variety 'Lakhan'. Application of N @ 60 kg/ha resulted in the maximum root expansion, moisture use, moisture-use efficiency and yield of wheat and barely compared with th at obtained with 0, 20 and 40 kg N/ha.