The groundwater plays a vital role in the development of rice plant especially now that the availability of water for agriculture is declining.

When the groundwater is less than 20 cm deep, it provides a ‘hidden’ source of water to the rice crop as the roots of the plants can directly take up water from it. When for some reason, fields are not flooded, capillary rise may reach into the root zone and again provide extra water to the crop.

With shallow groundwater, crop growth with little irrigation water supply can still grow well because of the “hidden” water supply of groundwater.  This capillary rise with a shallow ground water is beneficial because of the “hidden” water supply it can provide to the plants. It is more beneficial to crops grown with small irrigation water supply and the like.

Click on the play button to show ground water and plant root reactions to water levels.

Tick the radio button of the correct answer.

Now that you can explain relationship between rice plant and underground water supply, you can proceed on understanding the rice-water productivity.