The main objective of this research was to evaluate the root system in different depths and the canopy growth of three alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars grown in tubes filled with sand, under greenhouse conditions. The sowing was performed using inoculated seeds. All tubes were irrigated with water and or Hoagland solution - 50%, once a week. A completely randomized design was used with three cultivars and five replications for canopy evaluation, and a split-plot (depths) for the root system evaluation. The plants were evaluated 70 and 124 days after sowing (DAS). Significant differences were observed for plant height of Crioula and Xai-32 cultivars at 70 DAS and between cultivar Crioula and 5454 at 124 DAS. Leaf and branch number of cultivars Xai-32 and 5454 were different at 70 DAS. Root length density in the first soil layer differed from those of the lower depths in both evaluations. There was no significant difference among the three cultivars in total number of nodules and in the shoot/root ratio.
Medicago sativa L; forage legume; shoot to root ratio
