The Impact of Varied Fertilizers on the Yield and Quality of Panicum miliaceum under Low Nitrogen Conditions.

To clarify the response characteristics of broomcorn millet yield and quality to various fertilizers under low nitrogen conditions, the present study investigated the effects of different fertilization treatments, including no fertilization (HCK, CCK), urea (HF1, CF1), phosphate fertilizer (HF2, CF2), compound fertilizer (HF3, CF3), and organic fertilizer (HF4, CF4), on the agronomic traits, quality, and starch pasting properties of proso millet. As experimental materials, non-waxy proso millet (Hequ red proso millet, denoted as HQH) and waxy proso millet (Chishu 1, denoted as CS1) were utilized. The results showed that under low nitrogen conditions, urea treatment (HF1) significantly increased plant height and yield, and phosphate fertilizer treatment (HF2) significantly increased thousand-grain weight (TW). For waxy proso millet Chishu NO.1 (CS1), urea treatment (CF1) significantly increased yield, phosphate fertilizer treatment (CF2) significantly influenced the height of the plants, and compound fertilizer treatment (CF3) significantly increased thousand-grain weight. In terms of quality, phosphate fertilizer treatment (CF2) and organic fertilizer treatment (CF4) resulted in a substantial augmentation of both the total starch content and amylose content of waxy proso millet Chishu NO.1 (CS1), respectively, and organic fertilizer treatment (HF4, CF4) resulted in a notable enhancement of the protein content of proso millet. Organic fertilizer treatment (HF4) increased peak viscosity (PV), hot viscosity (HV), setback viscosity (SV), final viscosity (FV), breakdown viscosity (BV), pasting time (PTim), and pasting temperature (PTemp) of non-waxy proso millet. Phosphate fertilizer treatment (CF2) increased the peak viscosity (PV), hot viscosity (HV), breakdown viscosity (BV), final viscosity (FV), pasting time (PTim), and pasting temperature (PTemp) of waxy proso millet. Organic fertilizer treatment (HF4) and phosphate fertilizer treatment (CF2) under low nitrogen were the most effective in improving the comprehensive quality of non-waxy and waxy proso millet, respectively. The findings of our research elucidated the impacts of various fertilizers on the productivity and quality of non-waxy and waxy proso millet in nitrogen-deficient environments. Furthermore, this research offered a conceptual underpinning for attaining enhanced cultivation outcomes, encompassing both improved yield and quality, of proso millet in drought-prone regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]