Biological characteristics and agrotechnology for growing foxtail millet and annual ryegrass

Foxtail millet is an annual grass crop similar in biology to Italian millet and Japanese millet. The plant forms a robust fibrous root system that penetrates the soil to a depth of 120–150 cm, which gives it high drought tolerance. To obtain a high yield, the crop requires fertile soils, as well as good lighting and a sufficient amount of heat. Pollination in foxtail millet is cross-pollination by wind, but in rare cases, self-pollination is also observed.

The plant's stem is straight, round in cross-section, pubescent, 50 to 150 cm tall, with many internodes and good foliage. Depending on the conditions, the tillering ranges from two to seven shoots, and the color of the stems and leaves can be green or anthocyanin. Leaf length reaches 30–60 cm with a width of 2–4 cm. The inflorescence is a cylindrical or spindle-shaped spicate panicle 10–25 cm long and 1–4 cm wide with short branches and single-flowered spikelets. The fruit of the foxtail millet is a round-elliptical membranous caryopsis of various colors (from white to black with yellow and red shades), while the mass of 1000 seeds in hulls is 2–3 g.

Agrobiological characteristics and cultivation technology of annual ryegrass

Annual ryegrass (Italian ryegrass) is a variety of perennial pasture ryegrass. It is an early-maturing, early-flowering, loose-tufted long-day grass possessing high cold hardiness and a rapid growth rate. The plant is not very demanding in terms of heat and is widespread in the Non-Chernozem region (since 1928), successfully advancing far to the north, up to the Arctic Circle. The crop forms thin stems 60–90 cm tall and linear leaves, smooth and shiny on the underside and slightly rough on the upper side. The inflorescence is a loose spike where all spikelets (except the very top one) are turned toward the axis with their narrow side and have one leathery oblong-lanceolate glume, sometimes with an awn.

Annual ryegrass is capable of growing on a wide variety of soil types; however, it forms the highest forage productivity on loams and clay soils. The plant is highly responsive to moisture and exhibits intensive tillering, which allows for 1–2 cuts in northern regions and up to 3 cuts in southern ones. After mowing, the green mass regrows quickly, and in wet years, the crop is suitable for organizing stubble sowing. The production uses annual ryegrass cultivars Izorsky mestny, Luch, Ivatsevichsky mestny, pasture ryegrass cultivar Pashavy, as well as the cultivar Sochnostebelnaya 18.

• Minimum germination temperature — 3–4 °C
• Seedling frost resistance — down to −4...−5 °C
• Seeding rate — 10–12 million viable seeds per 1 ha
• Sowing depth — 1–3 cm
• Hay yield — 45–60 c/ha
• Ryegrass seed yield — 2–5 c/ha (up to 10 c/ha)

1. Thorough leveling and rolling of the field during pre-sowing tillage.
2. Sowing of seeds at an early date using wide-row or conventional row methods.
3. Carrying out 1–3 cuts for feed as the green mass regrows during the season.
4. Harvesting of seed crops by direct combining or two-phase harvesting.