Oct. 15, 1914 



Water Requirement of Plants 



15 



RICE 



Rice was grown for the first time at Akron in 191 2. The crop was slow 

 in becoming established, and the growth period was relatively long. No 

 grain was produced. The water requirement based on dry matter was 

 5i9± 13 (Table IX). It thus appears that rice, although a crop normally 

 grown with an abundant water supply and in a relatively humid climate, 

 is about as efficient in the use of water as rye. Its relative position 

 might be materially changed if the tests were made in a warmer climate. 



Rice was also included in the 191 3 measurements (PI. VII, fig. 3). 

 The stand was good and the growth was uniform and luxurious, but the 

 season was too short to produce grain. The water requirement in 191 3 

 was 744±i7, or 43 per cent higher than in 1912. 



Table IX. — Water requirement of 'rice at Akron, Colo., in IQ12 and l()lj 



Kl.AX 



Flax was included in the water-requirement measurements at Akron for 

 the first time in 1913. Its water requirement was found to be very 

 high, 905 ±25 based on dry matter and 2,835 ±52 when based on seed 

 production. It will thus be seen to have a water requirement as high or 

 higher than any of the legumes tested in 1913. This is in accord with 

 the measurements made by Leather (191 1, p. 270) in India, in which flax 

 was exceeded in water requirement only by chick-peas and rice. At 

 Akron in 191 3 flax required 22 per cent more water than rice. The 

 detailed results are jriven in Table X. 



