Abstract: Producers in the semi-arid Great Plains are starting to grow corn in sequence with winter wheat and proso millet. However, volunteer proso millet (hereafter referred to as proso) is difficult to control in corn with conventional practices. This study characterized growth and interference of proso in corn to aid producers in developing control strategies. Proso seedlings began emerging May 18 with 78% of seasonal emergence occurring by June 22; initial proso emergence occurred within 2 wk of corn emergence in all years. Seed production was related to time of emergence; proso seedlings emerging in mid-May produced approximately 2,800 seeds per plant, whereas seedlings emerging 4 wk later produced 88% fewer seeds. Controlling proso in late June prevented loss of corn grain yield caused by competition. When corn was planted in early May, the height difference between corn and proso was sufficient to allow postemergence-directed applications of graminicides for proso control. Corn yield was highest when planted in early May.
Nomenclature: Proso millet, Panicum milaceum L. #3 PAMIL; corn, Zea mays L. ‘Pioneer hybrid 3732’; wheat, Triticum aestivum L.
Additional index words: Critical period of interference, emergence period, transgenic corn, PAMIL.
Abbreviations: GDD, growing degree days.
