Modeling Root System Morphology in Rice

Abstract

Although rice is one of the most important crops in the world, especially in Asia, and many agronomic studies have been done, information on development of the root system is limited compared with the shoot. However, most agricultural practices for growing rice (e.g., fertilization and water management) affect root growth. Several researches, in fact, suggest that the dimension and distribution of the root system have possible relations to yield in rice (Kawata et al., 1978c; Yamazaki et al., 1980; Morita et al., 1988b; Mawaki et al., 1990). Therefore, knowledge of structure and development of the root system is essential for selecting effective practices in rice cultivation, though it is quite tedious and time-consuming to study the root system of rice plants grown under flooded conditions. In this chapter, I will briefly review the structure and development of the rice root system; then I will discuss the mathematical modeling of root system morphology and the applications of such modeling (see chapter by Dickmann and Hendrick in this volume).