Pearl millet

PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY OF PEARL MILLET

1. PearlmilletPearlmillet
Bajra or Cumbu
Pennisetum glaucumPennisetum glaucum

2. PearlmilletPearlmillet
OriginOrigin
AfricaAfrica

3. PearlmilletPearlmillet
There are of 32 sp There are of 32 sp
Only two are knownOnly two are known outside outside
P. glaucumP. glaucum - Pearlmillet - Pearlmillet
P. purpureumP. purpureum - Elephant grass - for fodder - Elephant grass - for fodder

4. P. purpureumP. purpureum - Elephant grass - Elephant grassP. glaucumP. glaucum - Pearlmillet - Pearlmillet

5. Pearl millet crop has a wide
adaptability to local
environments. Pearl millet is
hardy and can grow in areas
very hot and dry, and on soils
too poor
Pearl millet is considered
more efficient in utilization of
soil moisture and has a higher
level of heat tolerance.
Pearl millet crop in
desert type of
environment
Importance of PearlmilletImportance of Pearlmillet

6. Pearl Millet is adapted to warm
and dry climate but the greatest
area of the crop is cultivated in
drought-prone areas of the
world.
In these areas, pearl millet is
usually grown with limited
inputs in conditions of sparse
rainfall and low soil fertility
correspondingly poor yields.
Pearl millet crop with
low/no inputs
Importance of PearlmilletImportance of Pearlmillet

7. Pearl Millet is a principal source of energy, protein, vitamins and
minerals for millions of the poorest people in the regions where it is
cultivated.
Pearl millet grains are all very high in calories - precisely the reason
they do wonders for growing children and pregnant women.
Mineral richMineral rich
Constituent Range Mean
Protein (%) 5.8-20.9 10.6
Starch (%) 63.1-78.5 71.6
Soluble sugars (%) 1.4-2.6 2.1
Crude fibre (%) 1.1-1.8 1.3
Fat (%) 4 1-6.4 5.1
Calories 286
Total fat (g) 2.4
Saturated fat (g) 0.4
Monounsaturated fat (g) 0.4
Polyunsaturated fat (g) 1.2
Dietary fiber (g) 3.1
Protein (g) 8
Carbohydrate (g) 57
Cholesterol (mg) 0
Sodium (mg) 5
Thiamin (mg) 0.3
Niacin (mg) 3.2
Magnesium (mg) 106
Zinc (mg) 2.2
Millet/1 cup cooked

8. Pearl Millet is traditionally used for food products like roti (flat
bread), bhakri (stiff roti), and porridge or gruel.
Roti (flat bread) making
Pearl Millet porridge
Pearl Millet flour mixed with wheat flour is
used for making baking products like
breads, cakes, muffins, cookies, and
biscuits.
Making of cookies
Pearl Millet cookies
Plum Cake
Stable foodStable food

9. In addition to grain and forage uses, pearl millet crop residues and
green plants also provide sources of animal feed, building material,
and fuel for cooking, particularly in dry land areas.
Good forage cropGood forage crop
Forage Pearl Millet
Pearl millet crop
residue used as
fodder

10. Pearl Millet grain as
poultry feed
 Utilization of grain as feed for the
milch animals or poultry is not
significant (7%) in India compared
to sorghum (almost 50% of total
output).
 Pearl Millet grain is used as
poultry feed in the Americas,
China and Australia.
Good Poultry feedGood Poultry feed

11. Area under pearlmilletArea under pearlmillet
World AreaWorld Area
14.0 million ha14.0 million ha
Drier region of the worldDrier region of the world
India & AfricaIndia & Africa
Small areasSmall areas in USA, S. America, Canada, Japan, in USA, S. America, Canada, Japan,
Italy and Australia for fodderItaly and Australia for fodder
Mostly Arid & Semi - Arid regionsMostly Arid & Semi - Arid regions

12. India trendIndia trend
 10.6 in 1961 to 10.4 million ha in 199710.6 in 1961 to 10.4 million ha in 1997
 PredominantlyPredominantly in Rajasthan in Rajasthan
RajasthanRajasthan 5.005.00
MaharastraMaharastra 1.671.67
GujaratGujarat 1.211.21
UPUP 0.950.95
HaryanaHaryana 0.500.50

13. ClimateClimate
It is warm weather annual crop
For vegetative growth moist weather & medium RF is sufficient
Temp - 28 to 32º C is optimum for vegetative growth
Higher temp at this stage induces early flowering
Rainfall - 400 - 750mm
Rainfall during flowering & grain formation - poor grain setting
Rain at grain maturity - ergot disease due to high humidity & low
temp

14. VarietiesVarieties
For TNFor TN
 X 6, X 7, CO 7, WCC 75 X 6, X 7, CO 7, WCC 75
(World Cumbu Composite)(World Cumbu Composite)
 COH 8, K 3COH 8, K 3
 CO 9 is a good fodder varietyCO 9 is a good fodder variety
Its combination with Its combination with CO 5 cowpeaCO 5 cowpea is a specialty is a specialty

15. State Hybrids Varieties
Maharashtra ICMH 356, Nandi 35,
Saburi, PAC 903
PPC 6, HC 20, JBV 2,
ICTP 8203
Tamil Nadu GHB 558, CoHCu 8, X7 CO 7, ICMV 221,
ICMV 155
Andhra Pradesh PB 106, GHB 558 AIMP 92901, APS-1
Karnatka PB 106, GHB 558 ICMV 221, ICMV 155
Rajasthan HHB 67, RHB 121, GHB
538, PB 180
CZP 9802, Raj 171
Gujarat GHB 577, GHB 526, PB
172, PB 112
JBV 2, HC 20
VarietiesVarieties

16. Loamy sands to loamsLoamy sands to loams
Well drained, non saline and non-Well drained, non saline and non-
alkaline are more suitablealkaline are more suitable
Sensitive to water logged areasSensitive to water logged areas
Soil TypeSoil Type

17. Field preparationField preparation
Moisture conservation practices:Moisture conservation practices:
summer ploughing, summer ploughing,
deep tillage once in three yearsdeep tillage once in three years
Fine and smooth seed bed free from Fine and smooth seed bed free from
clodsclods
Free of weeds, termites and antsFree of weeds, termites and ants
Weed-free field
for sowing

18. SeasonSeason
Optimum time plays vital roleOptimum time plays vital role
Delay leads to disease and reduced grain Delay leads to disease and reduced grain
yieldyield
Mid July - onset of monsoon in RajasthanMid July - onset of monsoon in Rajasthan
In TN In TN
 Jun - July and Sep-Oct and also in Jun - July and Sep-Oct and also in
summersummer

19. Seed rateSeed rate
4 to 5 4 to 5 kg if sown behind country ploughkg if sown behind country plough
3.753.75 kg for transplanting kg for transplanting
The amount of seed required per unit area also depends on:
 Optimum plant stand required per unit area
 Plant type i.e. tall or short plants
 Weight of seed
 Quality of seed in terms of germination.

20. Three systems of pearl millet sowing :
•sowing on a flat surface,
•sowing on a ridge-and-furrow system,
•sowing on a broad bed-furrow system.
Sowing on flat surface Ridge and furrow system
Sowing methods

21. When seeds are sown using ridge and furrow system, the seeds
are either sown at the bottom of the furrow or on the side or top
of the ridge
Planting on the side or top of the ride is practiced in heavy
rainfall areas and under irrigated conditions

22. The broad bed-furrow (BBF) system has an advantage over
flat sowing in
•draining off excess water,
•providing more soil aeration for plant growth,
•greater in-situ moisture conservation.
•easier for weeding and mechanical harvesting.
Broad-bed and Furrow

23. Sowing methods
•broadcasting seed manually
•sowing behind country plough using pora
•using an improved seed drill which may or may not be fitted with
hoppers for fertilizer application
•using mechanical seed drills attached to a tractor

24.  A country seed drill called pora
i.e. a wooden hopper attached
to a hollow bamboo (Fig.) is
used to sow the seeds in the
shallow furrows opened by the
tines of a country plough
 A larger area can be covered
with this method of sowing Country seed drill

25. The best method is to sow the
hardened seeds of pearl millet
at 2.5 cm to 3 cm depth with
seed cum fertilizer drill to
ensure uniform depth of sowing
and fertilizer application before
the onset of monsoon.
Seed cum fertilizer drill

26. EstablishmentsEstablishments
Transplanting is suitable for delayed Transplanting is suitable for delayed
sowingsowing
500 m500 m
-2-2
nursery nursery
15-18 days old seedlings15-18 days old seedlings

27. Optimum populationOptimum population
175,000 to 200,000175,000 to 200,000
45 cm 45 cm
In between plants - decided after thinningIn between plants - decided after thinning
It may be by ‘inter-ploughing’It may be by ‘inter-ploughing’
For irrigated crops 15cm between plants For irrigated crops 15cm between plants
may be givenmay be given

28. If there are excess plants than the
optimum plants (18 plants per sq
m), then excess seedlings are
thinned out when the plants are
12 to 15 cm in height.
Any gaps found in the row could
be filled by transplanting the
plants available from the thinning
operation.
Thinning in Pearl Millet

29. Methods of weed control
•Control through crop cultural practices
•Manual or mechanical control
•Chemical control
Efficient and effective weed control can be
achieved by wisely combining the above methods
of weed control practices.
Weed managementWeed management

30. Weed free field for sowing
A good crop cover by adopting right spacing between rows and within the
row will smother the weed growth. For this adopt the recommended spacing
Mulching the soil surface in between rows with crop residue material like
straw etc. - prevent the germination of weed seeds and at the same time
smothers the established young weeds
Example of mulching
with straw
Cultural practices
Weed-free field
for sowing

31. Manual weeding
Manual or mechanical control
Hand hoeing to control weeds
Intercultivation using
blade harrow

32. Herbicides should be selected based on specific type of weeds
(broad leaved or grasses or sedges) encountered in a field,
and also keeping in view the rotational crops followed after
pearl millet harvest.
It is very difficult to control grassy weeds with post-emergence
herbicides as pearl millet crop itself may be affected.
So plan to use a pre-emergene herbicide if grassy weeds are
expected.
Suitable pre-emergence herbicidesSuitable pre-emergence herbicides
Atrazine 0.25 kgAtrazine 0.25 kg
Pendimethalin if intercropped with pulsesPendimethalin if intercropped with pulses
Chemical control

33. Post-emergence application
Low rates of 2,4-D at 0.5 to 1.0 kg/ha may be applied when
the plants are between 10 to 30 cm tall.
Spraying later time affects yield by reducing seed set.

34. Nutrient managementNutrient management
Compared to sorghum and maize N & P removal is less but K Compared to sorghum and maize N & P removal is less but K
is highis high
IrrigatedIrrigated
Hybrids Hybrids : 80:40:40: 80:40:40
VarietiesVarieties: 70:35:35: 70:35:35
RainfedRainfed
Low rainfall Low rainfall : 40:30:30: 40:30:30
Moderate to highModerate to high: 60-80:40:40: 60-80:40:40
N in 2 splits and P & K as basalN in 2 splits and P & K as basal

35. Nutrient managementNutrient management
N may be at basal and 15DAT / 30DASN may be at basal and 15DAT / 30DAS
Higher N - needs balanced P alsoHigher N - needs balanced P also
Micro - nutrientsMicro - nutrients
Zn 25 kgZn 25 kg
Fe 12-5 to 25.0kg for deficient soilsFe 12-5 to 25.0kg for deficient soils
FYM 5tFYM 5t
Bio-fertilizers seed and main field applicationBio-fertilizers seed and main field application
 Azospirillum / azotobacterAzospirillum / azotobacter

36. Water managementWater management
Highly drought evading cropHighly drought evading crop
Requires much lower water than any cerealsRequires much lower water than any cereals
250 - 350mm is sufficient250 - 350mm is sufficient
Critical stages - anthesis & floweringCritical stages - anthesis & flowering
3 - 4 irrigations is sufficient to get good yield3 - 4 irrigations is sufficient to get good yield

37. Pearl millet should be harvested as early as possible
to minimize losses due to birds, and bad weather
The ideal moisture content for harvesting grain pearl
millet is about 15- 20%.
Harvesting and storageHarvesting and storage

38. Thin stems, heavy panicles,
and profuse tillering may result
in lodging of the plants.
The seeds in the panicles of
lodged plants germinate in the
moist field and thus affect
grain yield and quality.
Hence, the plants are tied
together to keep the plants
standing.
Tying of plants

39. The best stage to harvest pearl millet is when the plants reach the
physiological maturity.
Physiological maturity can be determined by the black (dark) spot
at the bottom of the grain.
When the crop matures the leaves turn yellow and present a dried
up appearance.
The grains are hard and firm.
The usual practice of harvesting pearl millet is cutting the ear-
heads first and the stalks later.
The stalks (straw) are cut after a week, allowed to dry and then
stacked.

40. The harvested earheads are
dried before threshing.
The grain is separated from
the earheads by using a
mechanical thresher or by
drawing a stone roller over the
ear-heads or trampling under
the feet of cattle.
The separated grain is then
cleaned by winnowing (Fig.)
and dried.
Winnowing

41. Conventional grain dryers or, natural air drying are options
for drying the grain.
Grain at or below 14% moisture is considered dry
For long-term storage (more than 6 months), grain moisture
content should not be more than 13.5%.

42. Pearl millet grain is stored
traditionally in mud bins or
straw bins or bamboo bins
or in metal bins.
Mud bin

43. The storage structures in rural areas are not ideal from
scientific-storage point of view, as substantial losses occur
during storage of grain from insect pests, moulds, rodents, etc.
Bamboo bin
Metal bin

44. Grain yieldGrain yield
IrrigatedIrrigated3.0 to 3.5 t3.0 to 3.5 t
RainfedRainfed1.2 to 1.5t/ha1.2 to 1.5t/ha

45. Intercropping systems
Pearl millet + Red gram (pigeonpea) 2:1 ratio

Pearl millet + Groundnut 2:4 ratio
Pearl millet + Soybean 4:2 ratio
Pearl millet + Sunflower 4:2 ratio
(2:1 ratio indicates 2 rows of pearl millet and
one row of the other crop)
Cropping systems
pearl millet-Groundnut
Intercropping

46. Deep ploughing once & 3-4 ploughing before sowingDeep ploughing once & 3-4 ploughing before sowing
Ridges and furrow systemRidges and furrow system
Application of FYM 5t/haApplication of FYM 5t/ha
Uses of mulches to reduce ‘E’Uses of mulches to reduce ‘E’
Uses anti-transpirants - like kaolin. PMA, AtrazineUses anti-transpirants - like kaolin. PMA, Atrazine
Removal of 1/3 upper part of the seedlings to minimize ‘T’Removal of 1/3 upper part of the seedlings to minimize ‘T’
Mid-season correction if drought occursMid-season correction if drought occurs
Appropriate weed control measuresAppropriate weed control measures
Intercropping with legumes etcIntercropping with legumes etc
Moisture conservation practicesMoisture conservation practices