Assessment of rice roots characteristics as influenced by water management, variety and cow dung rates in Sokoto Sudan Savanna, Nigeria

Improvement in rice rooting characteristics through appropriate soil, water and crop management could be a panacea for enhanced rice production, national and global food security. Therefore, this study was carried out to assess the influence of four water management practices (AWD1, AWD2, AWD3 and CF), with two rice varieties (FARO 44 and TOFA) and varying cow dung manure application rates (0, 5, 10 and 15 t ha-1) on some selected rice roots growth characteristics in a semi-arid Sudan Savanna zone of Nigeria. The Plots were arranged in a split-split plot design replicated three times. Rice was grown on the field in 2020 and 2021 dry seasons. Measurements of roots growth traits (root length and root dry weight) were carried out using standard procedures. The results revealed alternate wetting and drying treatments (AWD1, AWD2 and AWD3) combined with FARO 44 and 5 t ha-1 cow dung (plus 100kg N ha-1 using urea 46 % N)) or 15 t ha-1 cow dung (plus 60 kg N ha-1 using urea 46 % N)) are better options for improving root morphological traits of rice in Sokoto Sudan Savanna, Nigeria. These combinations should therefore be employed for sustainable rice production and global food security enhancement in semi-arid environments.