Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Production of common millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) in Slovenia and effect of sowing time and sowing density on grain yield of the ‘Sonček’ cultivar 

Author(s):

Darja Kocjan Ačko *, Igor Šantavec, Monika Cvetkov

Recieved Date: 2011-10-07, Accepted Date: 2012-01-09

Abstract:

This paper offers a review of agricultural and nutritional importance of common millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) cultivation in Slovenia and effect of sowing time and sowing density on grain yield and on certain economically important characteristics of the indigenous Slovene cultivar ‘Sonček’. During the years 2009 and 2010 two block field trials were conducted on the experimental field at the Biotechnical Faculty of Ljubljana University testing three sowing densities (250, 370 and 500 germinative seeds m^-2) in three sowing terms (beginning of June - T₁: 3^rd June and 4^th June, beginning of July – T₂: 1^st July and 5^th July and mid-July – T₃: 17^th July and 20^th July). In 2009 the significantly highest value of grain yield (2,855.3 kg ha^-1) was established for the crop of the third sowing term T₃ that was 33.8% higher compared to the yield from T₁ sowing term and 23.3% higher than the yield recorded for the T₂ sowing term, respectively. Significantly the highest crop (2,608.9 kg ha^-1) was recorded for the highest sowing density (500 germinative seeds m^-2). In 2010 extremely unfavourable weather conditions caused much lower yields in all three sowing terms. For the T₁ and T₂ sowing terms we recorded approximately 1,000 kg of grain ha^-1, in spite of having significantly the highest number of plants m^-2 at the time of emergence, the yield obtained in the T₃ sowing term was below average due to the floods that affected major part of Slovenia on the 18^th of September 2010, including the experimental field with the trial. In 2010 we could establish an interaction between the term of sowing and the sowing density.  The significantly highest value of grain yield was recorded for the highest sowing density of the second term (T₂D₅₀₀= 1,322 kg ha^-1). We believe that information on certain agro technical characteristics of millet would contribute to re-introduction of millet cultivation in Slovenia and in other central European countries with similar growing conditions. 

Keywords:

Common millet, Panicum miliaceum, production, use, sowing time, sowing density, grain yield, Slovenia

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2012
Volume: 10
Issue: 1
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 417-422

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