Data on root system architecture of water efficient maize as affected by different nitrogen fertilizer rates and plant density.

Abstract

Root system architecture is a resource with untapped poten tial for agricultural improvements. The presented data de scribes the root system architecture of water efficient maize lines to different nitrogen fertilizer rates and plant density at two locations in North West Province of South Africa. The experiment was carried out during the 2015/16 and 2016/17 planting seasons. The root system architecture traits brace root angle, brace root number, brace root branch depth, crown root angle, crown root number, crown root branch depth and number of lateral roots were scored with the aid of shovelomics score board. ANOVA was used to analyze the data set and means separated with DMRT (p ≤ 0.05).The regression analysis was used to determine the relationship among nitrogen fertilizer and root architecture system.