Content area
Full Text
Abstract [Objective] This study aimed to select hybrid millet varieties those can produce high yield under water-saving irrigation conditions. [Method] From 2011 to 2013, drought-resistant experiments on 200 hybrid millet combinations were carried out in the three consecutive years in Dunhuang City. Plastic film was covered on the soil surface in one treatment (F) and was not in the other treatment (NF). Irrigation was only performed once before sowing. At seedling stage, jointing stage, heading stage and filling stage, we measured the water contents of soil at 0-20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-80, 80-100 and 100-120 cm deep. Plant height, panicle length, tiller number, grain weight per ear, grain weight per plant, grass weight and aboveground biomass were measured from a bulk of eight plants in each plot. Grain yield per plot was measured finally. [Result] Under the only irrigation of 1 200 m^sup 3^/hm^sup 2^ before sowing, 18 hybrid millet combinations exhibited stronger resistance to drought, and four of them: 13DH2, 13DH3, 13DH8 and 13DH9 produced grain more than 3 000 kg/hm^sup 2^. The yield of hybrid millet combination 13DH8 was up to 6 000 kg/hm^sup 2^ under the only irrigation of 1 200 m^sup 3^/hm^sup 2^, i.e. 1 m^sup 3^ of water could produce 5 kg of grain on average. Therefore, application of this cultivation technology could increase arable land of irrigated arid area by several times. In addition, irrigation of 1 200 m^sup 3^/hm^sup 2^ is equivalent to 120 mm of rainfall; so this cultivation technology also can be applied in arid area with 200 mm of rainfall. [Conclusion] The cultivation technology can cope with the occurrence of extreme weather, protect water resources and enlarge global grain planting area. At the same time, it also ensures food production and food safety.
Key words Hybrid millet; Drought resistance; Water-saving; Stable yield
Since the late 20th century, while the global food production has developed in fluctuations, total grain output has continued to go with an increasing trend. A research report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and other agencies recently showed that the world population will reach to 9.6 billion by 2050. Accordingly, the demand for food will increase 70% more than now111. China has the largest population in the world. In...