Rates and application times of nitrogen in proso millet crop

Due to its rapid growth, drought tolerance and short cycle, the proso millet crop has attracted the attention of producers and technicians as an alternative to crop rotation and formation of straw for subsequent planting of soybean in no-tillage system in some regions of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. However, there is limited information on application times and rates of nitrogen (N). Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate application times and rates of N in proso millet crop, under some plant parameters and in the final grain yield. The experiment was conducted in the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, campus of Frederico Westphalen, in the period of September to November2012. The experiment design was that of randomized blocks, in a4 x 4factorial design, with four replications. The treatments consisted of the combination of four rates of N (zero, 30, 60 and 90 kg ha-1) and four different application times of N: all at sowing, 30 % at sowing and the remaining15 days after emergence (DAE), 30 % at sowing and the remaining 30 days DAE, 30 % at sowing and the remaining45 days DAE. There was no significant response as regards the application times of Nin the proso millet crop. On the other hand, there was a significant and linear response in plant height, dry matter production, stem diameter, panicle length and in the final grain yield within crease in rates of N.