Zolushka

The bronze millet variety "Zolushka" was created by individual multiple selection of early-maturing plants of the "Blagodatne" variety and belongs to the fatic type. Plants reach a height of 70 to 91.4 cm, have medium-length stems and compact panicles 20-24.1 cm long. The grain is round, bronze-colored with a glossy sheen, 1000-grain weight is 7.2-7.5 g, and plumpness is 10-15%. The variety is characterized by good technological and culinary qualities, protein content in the grain of 11.3-14.1%, and high grain yield of 78-81%.

"Zolushka" is an early-maturing variety, maturing in 45-50 days, allowing its use for post-harvest seeding and obtaining a second crop in the same year. The variety is resistant to lodging, shattering, drought, as well as diseases such as rust, melanosis, and attack by millet aphids. It is well adapted to harsh climatic conditions, capable of effectively utilizing spring moisture and short-term rainfall to achieve high yields. Yield in variety trials reaches 38-65 centners per hectare and higher.

Millet "Zolushka" belongs to warm-loving crops: seeds begin to germinate at 8-10 °C, and uniform germination occurs when soil temperature reaches 15-16 °C. The optimal sowing time is late May to early June, when soil temperature at 10 cm depth reaches 12-14 °C. Plants can withstand minor frosts down to -2 °C, but die at temperatures below -3 °C. Throughout all growth phases, millet requires a specific temperature regime and can tolerate short-term temperature increases up to 38-40 °C for 48 hours. The variety is suitable for mechanized harvesting, including direct combine harvesting, which allows additional collection of green mass and hay.