Development of a Comprehensive Quality Evaluation System for Foxtail Millet from Different Ecological Regions

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) is a critical grain with high nutritional value and the potential for increased production in arid and semiarid regions. The foxtail millet value chain can be upgraded only by ensuring its comprehensive quality. Thus, samples were collected from different production areas in Shanxi province, China, and compared in terms of quality traits. We established a quality evaluation system utilizing multivariate statistical analysis. The results showed that the appearance, nutritional content, and culinary value of foxtail millet produced in different ecological regions varied substantially. Different values of amino acids (DVAACs), alkali digestion values (ADVs), and total flavone content (TFC) had the highest coefficients of variation (CVs) of 50.30%, 39.75%, and 35.39%, respectively. Based on this, a comprehensive quality evaluation system for foxtail millet was established, and the quality of foxtail millet produced in the five production areas was ranked in order from highest to lowest: Dingxiang > Zezhou > Qinxian > Xingxian > Yuci. In conclusion, the ecological conditions of Xinding Basin are favorable for ensuring the comprehensive quality of foxtail millet.