VOLGOGRADSKOE 4

The VOLGOGRADSKOE 4 proso variety is mid-season and recommended for cultivation in the Volgograd region. It is characterized by a compact and dense panicle without florets, large red round grains, and a thousand-seed weight of 7.7–8.3 g. The vegetation period is 73–76 days, which is 4–5 days earlier compared to the Saratovskoe 6 variety. Plants reach a height of 95–120 cm and possess resistance to lodging, shattering, and earhead smut race 1, ensuring crop stability and grain quality. The yield of groats from grain reaches 75–78%, making this variety attractive for the production of groat products.

Successful cultivation of VOLGOGRADSKOE 4 requires proper agronomy. The best predecessors are perennial grasses, annual grasses, winter crops, and grain legumes. Soil preparation includes stubble harrowing and deep loosening, while pre-sowing treatment consists of several stages of cultivation. Seeds are recommended to be treated with preparations such as Vitasax 200 FF, Sphinx, and others, using film-forming agents for protection against earhead smut. The optimal sowing time is the second half of May, with the possibility of sowing until mid-June. The sowing rate is 3 million germinating seeds per hectare for broadcast sowing and 1.5 million for wide-row sowing with a 45 cm row spacing. In more humid and fertile conditions, the sowing rate is increased.

Special attention is paid to weed control, as proso grows slowly at the beginning of vegetation and can be overshadowed by weeds. For this, early harrowing, inter-row treatments, and herbicides such as Lintaplant and Balera Super are applied. Harvesting is recommended to be done separately upon reaching full ripeness of the lower third of the panicle, which ensures even drying and quality grain collection. VOLGOGRADSKOE 4 is distinguished by high adaptability and technological readiness, making it a valuable variety for grain production in the region.