Growth and Productivity Dynamics of Proso Millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) under Water Stress at Pre- and Post-Flowering Stages

This study investigated the response of proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) to water stress during its pre-flowering and post-flowering stages, aiming to inform sustainable agricultural practices and optimize water resource use under future climate challenges. This research was conducted during the 2024 growing season in the greenhouse, College of Agriculture, Samarra University, to study the effect of three different irrigation periods (4, 7, 14 days) on the growth and productivity of millet (Proso) during the pre- and post-flowering stages. A randomized complete block design with four replications was used. Results confirmed that water shortages significantly impacted millet plants during both pre- and post-flowering stages. Extending the irrigation interval to 14 days consistently led to a significant decline across all evaluated traits, with the most pronounced declines observed in plant height (57.44%) and total dry weight (69.07%) for the pre-flowering stress group compared to the control treatment. Conversely, the post-flowering stress group showed the greatest reductions in panicle number per plant (77.71%), 1000-grain weight (50.43%), panicle length (52.08%), grain yield per plant (57.93%), and drought resistance index (58%), also relative to the control. These reductions indicate that irregular irrigation and prolonged drought negatively impact physiological performance and overall productivity. Water stress during the post-flowering growth phase was more effective in reducing growth and yield, confirming that this phase is sensitive to water shortages. Irrigation every four days also yielded the best results for all traits, indicating the importance of regular water availability to ensure healthy growth and high yield. Keywords: Global warming, carbon emissions, food security, Poaceae, semi-arid region, fodder crops, stress tolerance, drought stress