On the other hand, "Digitaria exilis" has some implications for its ability to be a crop candidate. One thing the crop struggles with is in competing with weeds. Farmers are therefore required to remove weeds after sowing. Another issue is that after planting "Digitaria exilis", the fields require time to recover soil nutrients. Usually the field has to left fallow for 1–2 years after harvest. These are some of the qualities that need improvement and whose improvement can be achieved through artificial selection.