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Digitaria exilis is nutritionally rich in methionine and cysteine[1]. Both of these amino acids are vital to human health[1]. These two amino acids are deficient in many other cereal grains like rice, sorghum, millet, and maize[1]. Digitaria exilis has much better physicochemical properties than some of the cereal grains[1]. Digitaria exilis has more carbohydrate content than rice, sorghum, millet, and maize[1]. Digitaria exilis has a higher fat and protein content then rice[1]. The combination of the nutritional value and physicochemical properties show that the benefits from Digitaria exilis exceed the benefits from other cereal crops[1].
The physicochemical properties that lead Digitaria exilis to have a potential to be used in many foods are however affected by processing methods that are used on it[2]. Not only do these processing methods have an affect on the properties of Digitaria exilis, they are just generally extensive to perform[2]. The methods that are generally used during processing Digitaria exilis are mechanical and thermal[2]. The mechanical methods are processes like dehusking and milling[2]. The thermal methods are things like precooking, parboiling, and roasting[2]. It has been shown that there is a drastic change in nutrient content of Digitaria exilis after the process of milling[3]. The proccsing methods affect the nutrient content because the outer layers of the grain are removed by milling[3]. The outer layers of the grain are where the micronutrients are concentrated[3]. Therefore, with milling, there is a loss of nutrient content[3]. This causes the iron, zinc, and phytate concentrations to be reduced in comparison of the concentrations before processing[3]. Additionally it has been shown that precooking, parboiling, and roasting have significant affects on physical, biochemical, and functional characteristics[2].
The nutrient content and yield of Digitaria exilis can also be affected by the soil nutrients that are present[4]. Digitaria exilis naturally grows in a low rainfall and poor soil conditions[4]. A study showed the nitrogen concentration of the soil has the greatest affect on the nutrient content and the yield of Digitaria exilis[4]. Prodectivity of Digitaria exilis had the greatest increase when nitrogen was added in limited amounts and excess amounts of potassium and phosphorus were added as well[4]. These significant increases in yield were not seen however when only nitrogen was added to the soil without the addition of excess potassium and phosphorus or with the addition of only one of the two, potassium or phosphorus[4].
There are many different landraces of Digitaria exilis that exist[5]. These landraces vary greatly in their agricultural characteristics[5]. Farmers evaluated these landraces and ranked the agricultural characteristics that they possess[5]. These characteristics include ease of processing, productivity, grain size, how it is harvested, storability, and drought tolerance[5]. The three most important criteria in selection of a landrace are earliness, culinary characteristics, and ease of processing[5]. There is substantial amount of diversity in the Digitaria exilis crop[5]. It is important for future use, the landraces the have the greatest amount of nutrition and possess agriculturally important qualities can be cultivated under improvement[5].
- ^ a b c d e f g Barikmo, I., Ouattara, F., & Oshaug, A. (2004). Protein, carbohydrate and fibre in cereals from Mali - how to fit the results in a food composition table and database. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 17(4), 291-300.
- ^ a b c d e f Ballogou, V., Sagbo, F., Soumanou, M., Manful, J., Toukourou, F., & Hounhouigan, J. (2015). Effect of processing method on physics-chemical and functional properties of two fonio (Digitaria exilis) landraces. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 52(3), 1560-1577.
- ^ a b c d e Koreissi-Dembele, Y., Fanou-Fogny, N., Hulshof, P., & Brouwer, I. (2013). Fonio (Digitaria exilis) landraces in Mali: Nutrient and phytate content, genetic diversity and effect of processing. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 29(2), 134-143.
- ^ a b c d e Gigou, J., Stilmant, D., Diallo, T.A., Cisse, N., Sanogo, M.D., Vaksmann, M., & Dupuis, B. (2009). Fonio Millet (Digitaria exilis) Response to N, P, and K Fertilizers Under Varying Climatic Conditions in West Africa. Experimental Agriculture, 45(4), 401-415.
- ^ a b c d e f g Dansi, A., Adoukonou-Sagbadja, H., & Vodouhe, R. (2010). Diversity, conservation and related wild species of Fonio millet (Digitaria spp.) in the northwest of Benin. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 57(6), 827-839.