Biomass production of millet according to the row spacing and seeding rate

Abstract

Due to the wide diversity of millet using, there is little information about the best spacing and seeding rate to be adopted for cultivation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of row spacing and seeding rate on biomass production of millet in the West of Paraná State region. The experiment was conducted in no tillage in Tupãssi, Paraná. The experimental design was randomized blocks in factorial 2 x 4 replicates. The first factor refers to the seeding rate (25 and 50 kg ha^-1), and the second factor refers to the spacing between lines (20, 40, 60 and 80 cm). The evaluations were conducted at the flowering stage. The utilization of 50 kg ha^-1 of seed millet provided a higher biomass production, however it provided less tillering and less numbers of leaves per plant. The higher biomass production of millet is obtained when using smaller row spacing (20 cm) and higher seeding rate (50 kg ha^-1 seed). In the West region of Paraná, the millet can be an alternative for the production of straw to the soil cover on the tillage and/or as a source of forage for animal feed.