Proso millet crop is an interesting option for soil cover crop and grain production, due to fast growth, drought tolerance and short cycle. However, data about nitrogen fertilization management in this crop are scarce. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of doses and times of nitrogen top-dressed application on agronomic characteristics and grain yield of proso millet. A randomized complete block design in a 4x2 factorial scheme, constituted by the combination of four doses (0, 30, 60, and 120 kg ha-1 of N) and two application times (14 and 28 days after emergency) of nitrogen fertilizer (urea) in topdressing with four replications was used. Nitrogen topdressed fertilization promoted increase in plant height, length of panicle and grain yield of proso millet crop, independently of application time. Number of grains per panicle was increased by nitrogen fertilization only with application accomplished 14 days after emergence. The topdressing nitrogen application up to the highest dose (120 kg ha-1), 14 days after plant emergence, led to an increase in agronomic characteristics and grain yield of proso millet.
Nitrogen fertilization; mineral nutrition; yield components; grain yield
