Detailed Explanation of Millet Planting Technical Points and Management Methods
Millet is the fruit of foxtail millet after the husk is removed, and is also called su mi; it was first cultivated in the Yellow River region of China. As people's living standards have risen, they have gradually paid more attention to the importance of health preservation, shifting from always eating rice in the past to now often eating some millet. So what are the millet planting techniques?
1. Site selection
Millet can be planted in both clay soil and sandy soil. To achieve high yield, stable yield, and good quality, good soil conditions are needed to meet its requirements for water, nutrients, air, and heat. Millet is suitable for growing in slightly acidic and neutral soils. It likes dry conditions and fears waterlogging; especially in the later growth stage, too much soil moisture can easily cause root rot. Therefore, it is advisable to choose fertile loam or sandy loam with higher terrain, convenient drainage, deep soil layers, and a soft texture.
2. Planting time
Cultivation season and crop rotation: foxtail millet is divided into spring cultivation and summer cultivation. For spring cultivation, the sowing time in the Huang-Huai region is early April, and the harvest time is mid-to-late July; the following crop can only be late-autumn crops with a relatively short growth period. For summer cultivation, the sowing period is mid-to-late June after the wheat harvest; as long as management is good, sowing delayed until early-to-mid July can also achieve a good harvest. At present, foxtail millet cultivation is mainly summer cultivation, while spring cultivation is mostly in the northern one-crop-per-year cultivation areas.
3. Sowing methods
There are two sowing methods: broadcasting and drilling. High-yield fields are mainly drilled, while dry areas in the west are mainly broadcast. For broadcasting, the sowing rate is 1000-1500 grams per 667 sq m, and for drilling, the sowing rate is 1000 grams per 667 sq m.
4. Field management
After the seeds are sown, seedling-stage management needs to be done well. Thin the seedlings when the young plants have grown 5-6 leaves. Weeding in the field should be carried out frequently. During droughts, irrigation water sources must be ensured, and the plants must not be left without water for a long time.