Millet hybrid seeds are produced from the crossbreeding of male and female parents. Hybrid seeds produced by millet breeding are divided into two types: one is true hybrid seeds, which appear as green seedlings in the field with high yields, while false hybrid seeds, which appear as yellow seedlings with low seed setting rate. Mixing these two kinds of hybrid seeds will reduce yield.

Source: Zhangjiakou Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ZAAS)

True hybrid seeds and false hybrid seeds.

Source: Zhangjiakou Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ZAAS)

It can reduce the crowding of millet seedlings, improve the environmental conditions of light, water, and fertilizer for millet, and promote root development and formation pf strong seedlings.

Source: Zhangjiakou Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ZAAS)

Thinning or final singling should be avoided after millet tillering. Firstly, it's difficult to leave the suitable seedlings and distinguish between millet seedlings and tillers, leading to excessive labor and slow work and increasing labor costs. Secondly, seedlings become weak, significantly delaying heading, wasting heat resources, and reducing yield.

Source: Zhangjiakou Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ZAAS)

The optimal time for thinning is when the seedlings are 3-5cm tall and have 3 to 4 true leaves before thinning and the seedlings should be thinned to the required density according to each cultivar's respective characteristics at one time.

Source: Zhangjiakou Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ZAAS)

Generally, in dry areas with irrigation facilities, millet needs to be irrigated 2-3 times, and in moist mountainous areas, millet needs to be irrigated 1-2 times. Thus, adequate water supply throughout the growth period of "Zhangzagu" Hybrid Millet can be ensured.

Source: Zhangjiakou Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ZAAS)

"Zhangzagu" Hybrid Millet requires about 378-472mm of water in its entire growth period. "Zhangzagu" Hybrid Millet varieties No.3, 6, 13, and 19 require relatively less water, while those with longer growth periods need more water, especially during critical developmental phase.

Source: Zhangjiakou Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ZAAS)

The entire growth period of Zhang Hybrid Millet varieties requires a cumulative temperature greater than or equal to 10℃ to be 2772.5-2959.9℃·d. As long as the cumulative temperature greater than or equal to 10℃ reaches 2772.5℃·d in the entire growth period, "Zhangzagu" Hybrid Millet No.3 and 13 can mature.  Mulching can further advance maturity, reducing the required cumulative temperature to 2400℃·d.

Source: Zhangjiakou Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ZAAS)

High-yield and high-quality irrigated "Zhangzagu" Hybrid Millet planting areas

Elevation is generally below 1350m, and annual rainfall is below 300mm. Cumulative temperature greater than or equal to 10℃ from May to September is over 3000℃·d. Heat resources can meet the normal maturation of "Zhangzagu" Hybrid Millet No.3, 5, 6, 10, 13. Under sprinkler irrigation, yield of the above suitable varieties can exceed 400kg per mu. Under gravity irrigation, it can reach over 500kg per mu.

Irrigated and dry land millet sub-suitable areas

Elevation is about 1350-1600m, and annual rainfall is 300-400mm. Cumulative temperature greater than or equal to 10℃ from May to September is 2600-3000℃·d. "Zhangzagu" Hybrid Millet No.3, 5, 6, 13 can be grown. Under irrigation conditions, the yield per mu of "Zhangzagu" Hybrid Millet No. 3 and 5 can reach 350-400kg, with No. 5 being optimal; under dry land conditions, the yield can exceed 200kg per mu.

Unsuitable planting areas

Areas with an elevation of over 1600m and a cumulative temperature greater than or equal to 10℃ from May to September below 2600℃·d are unsuitable for planting. These areas cannot meet the thermal requirements of the entire growth period of "Zhangzagu" Hybrid Millet, making normal maturation of its varieties impossible. Insufficient heat during the grain-filling stage easily leads to a high rate of empty grains and poor millet maturity.

Source: Zhangjiakou Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ZAAS)

Millet's prior crops should ideally be legumes, tubers, wheat, corn and vegetables, avoiding crops like buckwheat that prefer cool weather in autumn. A 2-3 year interval is best because it can not only benefit millet growth and yield formation, but also overcome the disadvantages of continuous cropping. In areas without rotation conditions, different millet varieties with distinct seedling colors, like red and yellow seedlings, can be rotated to facilitate removing weeds when thinning seedlings.

Source: Zhangjiakou Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ZAAS)