PLANT-TYPE CHARACTERISTICS AND SEED YIELD OF PROSO MILLET (PANICUM MILIACEUM L.) RESPONSE TO PLANT DENSITY

Abstract

Yield of proso millet was usually low due to chaotic planting density in arid and semi-arid areas of China. To get high yield in proso millet, planting density and plant-type characteristics were explored. This study was carried out in the field to determine the effects of planting density (30, 45, 60, 75 and 90×104 plants ha-1) on plant-type characteristics and yield components. With an increment in planting density, panicle length, grain weight per panicle, grain density, total grain, plant height, panicle height, and stalk length increased. When planting density was increased 15×104 plants ha-1 at a time, rolling rate was increased by about 0.04, but leaf basic angle and dropping angle decreased by about 0.3° and 0.28°. Bender moment, anti-broken strength decreased with an increment in planting density, but anti-lodging index increased. Bender moment of three basic nodes decreased by about 1140, 1041, and 1024 cm g, and anti-broken strength of three basic nodes decreased by about 2240, 1664, and 907 g. The first node, the second node, and the third node increased lodging index by about 3.3, 3.5, and 4.8 cm g g-1, respectively. Increase in planting density of proso millet could obtain the highest yield at 75×104 plants ha-1, and plant-type characteristics of high-yielding population was good for yield development.

Keywords

• individual traits
• different population
• proso millet
• optimal density