AREA: Crops

UNIT: Proso millet

JOB: Introduction to Proso millet and its production.

SITUATION:

OBJECTIVES:

    1. To develop the students understanding of Proso millet and how it is produced and harvested.
    2. To develop the students understanding of the Proso millet varieties.

MOTIVATION

    1. Discuss what Proso millet is and the basics of how it is produced.
    2. Discuss what types of Proso millets are raised in the high plains area.
    3. Discuss what Proso millet is used for.

STUDY GUIDES:

    1. What is Proso millet?
    2. What are the climatic requirements needed for Proso millet production?
    3. What are the compositions for Proso millet used as a grain crop?
    4. What are the recommended cultural practices when producing Proso millet?
    5. What is the recommended seeding rate for Proso millet?
    6. What are the two most important limiting nutrients to be aware of during the production of Proso Millet?
    7. What are common diseases and pests to be aware of when producing Proso millet?
    8. How is Proso millet harvested?
    9. What are some Proso millet varieties that are produced in the area?

REFERENCE: Crop Series Production no. 0.118, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, R.L. Croissant & J.F. Shanahan

ANALYSIS:

    1. What is Proso millet? -Proso millet is an annual warm season grass that can grow up to 30 inches tall. When the grain is threshed, most of the seed remains enclosed in the inner hull. Seed color varies, but is usually white, creamy white, yellow or red. It can also be shades of brown, gray or black. Proso millet is self-pollinated, but some outcrossing may occur when two varieties are planted side by side. The grain from Proso millet may be used as livestock feed or in birdseed mixtures.
    2. What are the climatic requirements needed for Proso millet production? -Proso millet is a short season crop requiring 50 to 90 days from sowing to maturity. Proso millet requires warm weather for germination and plant growth. Proso millet is a very efficient user of soil water and grain yields have been obtained with only 6 inches of total water use.
    3. What are the compositions for Proso millet used as a grain crop? -The protein composition of Proso millet is 11.8% and the crude fiber is at 7%.
    4. What are the recommended cultural practices when producing Proso millet? -Proso millet is grown under dryland conditions. When planted on loamy soils, millet is usually rotated with fallow or wheat. On sandy soils, many growers do not summer fallow for millet. Proso millet is a shallow-rooted crop and will extract most of its water requirements from the 0 to 3-foot soil depth. Common tillage tools used in Proso millet production are: one-way disk plow, disk, chisels or sweeps followed by rod weeder can also be used depending on the amount of stubble, weed growth and previous crop. When drilling Proso millet, grain drills are almost always used, but when surface moisture is low, it may be necessary to plant deeper to place the seed in moist soil. However, the seed should not be covered by more than 1 inch of soil.
    5. What is the recommended seeding rate for Proso millet? -If planting Proso millet in 30-inch rows, seeding rates of 2 to 4 pounds are recommended. When operating drills using all available seeders, 8 to 15 pounds per acre are recommended in dryland conditions. When planting in poor seedbeds and/or heavy expected weed pressure, higher seeding rates are used.
    6. What are the two most important limiting nutrients to be aware of during the production of Proso Millet? -Nitrogen is generally the most important nutrient limiting Proso millet production. Proso millet grown on soils where millet and small grains have been grown in a continuous rotation will probably respond to additional nitrogen. When planted in fields after fallow, Proso millet may be less likely to respond to additional fertilizer.
    7. What are common diseases and pests to be aware of when producing Proso millet? -Head smut and kernel smut is occasionally encountered in Colorado. Head smut can be easily controlled by seed treatment, but kernel smut is more difficult to control. This disease requires seed treatment and crop rotations.
    8. How is Proso millet harvested? - The suggested method for harvest of Proso millet is swathing when the seeds in the upper half of the panicle have matured. Swathing too soon reduces yields and test weights. Late swathing increases losses due to shattering and lodging.
    9. What are some Proso millet varieties that are produced in the area?
    1. Abarr-large, white seeded type that matures in 60 to 70 days. It grows up to 36 inches tall and is higher yielding and more uniform than the common white millet.
    2. Cerise-a light red-seeded early maturing Proso that is medium in height also having medium sized seed with high-test weights.
    3. Cope-Matures 10-14 days later than Abarr and has a large white seed. Cope has good straw strength and is 25 to 35% taller than Abarr. Cope will also out-yield Abarr by more than 30%.
    4. Dawn-A short millet that is very resistant to shattering and lodging. It has a large white seed and may be direct harvested rather than swathed because of its short stature and early maturity.
    5. Leonard-Is yellow to tan-seeded and because of its color, is not in demand by the birdseed industry. This variety is a high yielder and should be seeded at 5 to 8 pounds per acre. Leonard will mature 2 to 3 weeks later than Abarr.
    6. Rise-A white seeded Proso that is 5 to 7 inches taller than Dawn and is of medium maturity.
    7. Turghai-A light red to orange seeded Proso. It is early maturing with high-test weight and excellent lodging resistance. It is a mid-tall plant.