How to grow foxtail millet? A full analysis of the key planting techniques

Foxtail millet prefers warmth and has strong adaptability; it withstands both drought and poor soil, and is not afraid of acid or alkaline conditions. It is grown in the arid and poor mountainous areas of both northern and southern China.

Planting key points:

(1) It should not be planted in continuous cropping; continuous cropping leads to severe disease and many weeds, so rational crop rotation is essential. (2) In spring, do a good job of harrowing, shallow plowing and rolling to preserve soil moisture, ensuring the water needed for foxtail millet germination and emergence. (3) Apply base fertilizer once before sowing in combination with plowing, mainly farmyard manure; the application rate per mu: for high-yield fields, 5000-7000 kg is suitable; for medium-yield fields, 1500-4000 kg; mixing phosphate fertilizer with farmyard manure and composting it as base fertilizer gives the best effect. (4) Before sowing, carry out seed sunning, seed soaking, chemical seed dressing and seed coating to control smut and underground pests. (5) Spring foxtail millet is generally sown from early May to early June. Furrow sowing is mostly used, with a seeding rate of generally 0.5 kg per mu and a sowing depth of 3-5 cm. (6) After emergence, when there are 2-3 leaves, check the seedlings and replant gaps per mu; when there are 5-6 leaves, thin and finalize the seedlings, leaving 20,000-35,000 plants per mu. (7) The first intertillage is done together with thinning and finalizing the seedlings, hoeing shallowly and breaking up clods finely while removing weeds. The second intertillage is done at the jointing stage together with topdressing; the intertillage should be deep and combined with earthing up. The third intertillage is done before the rows close; the intertillage depth is generally 4-5 cm, and besides loosening soil and removing weeds, high earthing up is also carried out to promote root development and prevent lodging. (8) Harvesting is best at the late dough stage or full ripening stage. Harvesting too early results in unfilled grains with high moisture content, reducing yield and quality; harvesting too late results in dry stems, brittle ears and serious grain shattering losses.

Varieties currently widely grown in the Beijing area include: Migu 2000, Jingu 2401, Jingu 21, green foxtail millet, black foxtail millet and the hybrid foxtail millet "Zhangza" series.