Abstract:

In order to explore the adaptability of the introduced millet varieties planted in Guangling County, a spring millet producing area of northern Shanxi Province, a two-year planting experiment was carried out in Baituan Xibu village of Zuotuan Township of Guangling County with ‘Jingu 21’, ‘Jingu 59’, ‘Datong 45’, ‘Xingu 4’ and ‘8311’ as experimental millet varieties and ‘Dabaigu’ as control, the differences and correlations of main agronomic and nutritional quality characters were analyzed. The results showed that the growth period of ‘Jingu 59’ and ‘Jingu 21’ was 146 d and 139 d respectively, which belonged to late-maturing varieties of spring sowing, and the growth period of ‘8311’ was 120 d, which was the shortest. The yield of ‘Jingu 59’ was the highest in 2019 (6483.11 kg/hm²) and 2020 (6707.80 kg/hm²), which increased by 13.44% and 15.15%, respectively, compared with that of the control ‘Dabaigu’. The yield of ‘Jingu 21’ was slightly higher than that of the control. The plant height and spike width of ‘Jingu 21’ and ‘Jingu 59’ were relatively large, so were the spike length of ‘Datong 45’, ‘Jingu 21’ and ‘Jingu 59’. The spike weight and spike grain weight of ‘Jingu 59’, ‘Jingu 21’ and ‘Datong 45’ were significantly higher than those of other varieties. The highest 1000-grain weight was found in ‘Datong 45’ and ‘Xingu 4’, which was significantly different from that of other varieties. The protein content of ‘Jingu 21’ was the highest in 2019 and 2020 (13.03% and 11.23%) among the varieties, followed by that of ‘Jingu 59’, significantly different from that of other varieties. The fat content of ‘Jingu 59’ was the highest, which was 3.47% and 5.13% in 2019 and 2020, respectively, while the content of carbohydrate and starch in ‘8311’ were the highest. The study demonstrated that yield, spike width, flag leaf width, spike weight, spike grain weight, 1000-grain weight and the contents of protein, fat and dietary fiber had large variation coefficient. Yield was extremely significantly and positively correlated with plant height, spike width, spike weight, spike grain weight and 1000-grain weight, significantly and positively correlated with flag leaf width and fat content, and significantly and negatively correlated with carbohydrate and starch content. These characters had a great impact on millet yield, and there were also significant or extremely significant correlations among the characters. Through comprehensive analysis of the agronomic and nutritional quality characters of the introduced millet varieties, the agronomic characters of ‘Jingu 21’ and ‘Jingu 59’ are prominent, and the yield and the content of main nutrients are higher than those of the control. The two varieties can adapt to the ecological environment of Zuotuan Township of Guangling County, and are feasible to be popularized locally.

Key words: millet, agronomic characters, nutrient quality characters, yield, correlation analysis