Detailed Explanation of Key Points of High-Yield Foxtail Millet Cultivation Techniques

Foxtail millet is a common crop with a long cultivation history in our country and very high nutritional value. So, what are the high-yield foxtail millet cultivation techniques?

1. Land selection and crop rotation

Because foxtail millet seeds are small, have weak sprouts, and poor soil-emergence ability, foxtail millet should be planted on plots with loose soil, flat terrain, relatively thick soil layer, good drainage and irrigation, and high organic matter content. After the plot is selected, the soil should be finely prepared and well leveled. Foxtail millet should be grown in rotation, avoiding continuous cropping (planting foxtail millet continuously on the same plot) and avoiding planting it after a one-crop interval on the same plot. Foxtail millet rotation is generally 3-4 years. The best preceding crop for foxtail millet is legumes or green manure, followed by crops such as wheat and corn.

2. Fine soil preparation and sufficient base fertilizer

Fine soil preparation can prevent drought, preserve soil moisture, and ensure full emergence. Soil preparation should be done early. As soon as the soil thaws to a plow depth, shallow plowing should be carried out in time, and sufficient base fertilizer should be applied together with shallow plowing. Generally, 5000 kg of farmyard manure and 15 kg of diammonium phosphate are applied per mu. After plowing, harrowing should be done immediately to preserve soil moisture. After soil preparation, the soil should be fine, thorough, level, and mellow, empty on top and firm below, with no residual plants or stubble, and then sowing can be carried out.

3. Sowing

(1) Timely sowing The minimum temperature for foxtail millet seed germination is 7-8°C, and the optimum temperature is about 13°C. Seedlings are not tolerant of low temperatures, so the sowing period for foxtail millet should be determined according to local conditions. In Zhangye, sowing from late April to early May is suitable. Treat seeds with 50% carbendazim at 5% of seed weight to control smut.

(2) Sowing rate and sowing depth Calculate the sowing rate according to the required number of seedlings, germination rate, true hybrid rate, and 1000-grain weight. Generally, the sowing rate is 1-1.5 kg per mu. The sowing depth should follow the principle of shallow sowing when soil moisture is good and deeper sowing when soil moisture is poor. A sowing depth of 3-4 cm is suitable.

(3) Sowing methods There are many sowing methods for foxtail millet. The commonly used methods are drill sowing with a seed drill and mechanical sowing (row sowing, hole sowing).

(4) Sowing requirements When using a seed drill or seeder, the seeds should be spread evenly, with no missed sowing, no breaks in the rows, and consistent depth. After sowing, suppression should be carried out in time. For plots with severe spring drought and poor soil moisture, the number of suppressions can be increased to improve the emergence rate.

4. Field management

(1) Seedling stage management The links of protecting seedlings, restraining seedling growth, thinning seedlings, and weeding should be well carried out. Thin seedlings at the 3-leaf stage, and finalize seedlings at the 5-leaf stage. For row sowing, plant spacing is 8-10 cm and row spacing is 18-20 cm; for hole sowing, plant spacing is 20 cm and row spacing is 20 cm, with 2-3 plants retained per hole, and 37,000-42,000 seedlings retained per mu. Combined with thinning or finalizing seedlings, shallow intertillage and loosening of the soil should be carried out to restrain foxtail millet seedling growth and promote strong seedlings, weed and preserve soil moisture. When finalizing seedlings, retain uniformly growing seedlings, retain strong seedlings and not weak seedlings, retain green seedlings and not yellow seedlings, and retain healthy seedlings and not diseased or pest-damaged seedlings. When thinning and finalizing hybrid seedlings, remove false hybrids.

(2) Jointing to heading stage In late June, it enters the jointing stage. Combined with watering, deep intertillage should be carried out, and 15 kg of urea should be topdressed per mu. At the booting stage, combined with watering, 20-25 kg of NPK compound fertilizer should be topdressed per mu, and intertillage and weeding should be carried out in time. In dry weather, more intertillage should be carried out. Intertillage can not only increase yield but also improve grain quality.

(3) Spraying herbicides Special herbicides for foxtail millet can be selected, which can remove common annual monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weeds in foxtail millet fields, such as crabgrass, barnyardgrass, foxtail, goosegrass, lambsquarters, and so on, saving labor and effort. They can be sprayed on the soil surface after sowing and before emergence, or sprayed at the 3-5 leaf stage of foxtail millet seedlings before weeds emerge. They must not be used when the seeds are emerging through the soil.

5. Pest and disease control

(1) Foxtail millet is susceptible to damage by corn borers and underground pests during the seedling stage and the jointing and heading stages. If pests occur, 50 ml of 5% phoxim can be used per mu, diluted with 40 kg of water, and sprayed for control.

(2) From the grain-filling stage to the maturity stage of foxtail millet, especially for early-maturing varieties, attention should be paid to preventing bird damage and lodging.

6. Timely harvest

When the foxtail millet ears turn yellow, the grains harden, and the leaves turn yellow, it can be harvested. After harvest, do not thresh immediately. Air-dry for 7-10 days before threshing, and use after-ripening to increase yield.

To achieve high yield of foxtail millet, before planting, you must first understand its varieties clearly and use scientific management methods to improve quality and yield.