Ergot: Honeydew like substance is secretes on earheads. After 10-15days these droplet dry and turn into dark brown to black color. Seeds are replaced with black color fungus i.e sclerotia.

To protect from ergot disease, dip the seeds in 20% salt solution for five minutes. Remove and destroyed seeds which are floating on water and wash remaining seeds with clean water. As a preventive measure, at time of earhead formation, take spray of Zineb or Mancozeb@2gm/Ltr of water. Take two-three spray with interval of 3 days. 

Bajra or pearl millet is widely grown millet in the world. It can tolerate drought, thats why it is well adopted in region of scanty rainfall. India is largest producer of Bajra. Bajra is major source of protein, vitamin and minerals. Along with human consumption, it is used for fodder purpose, its stalk is used to feed animals. Major Pearl millet growing area in India are, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, UP, Haryana, MP, Karnataka, AP and Tamil Nadu. 

Maharashtra contribute near about 15% in total production with productivity of 675kg/ha. Ahmadnagar, Nashik, Pune, Khandesh, Satara are major bajra growing districts of Maharashtra.
 

Bajra can be grown in variety of soils. It cannot withstand in water logged and acidic soil. It gives best results when grown on well drained black cotton soil and sandy loam soils.

KBH 108 (MH 1737): Ready to harvest in 80-86days.

Shraddha: Early maturing hybrid. Ready to harvest in 70-75days. Gives average yield of 10-11qtl/acre.

Saburi: Ready to harvest in 70-75days. Resistant to gosavi disease. Gives average yield of 12qtl/acre.

Shanti: Ready to harvest in 80-85days. Medium heighted, Bold seeded hybrid. Resistant to gosavi disease.

A.H.B 1666: Ready to harvest in 70-85days. Medium heighted, Bold seeded hybrid. Resistant to gosavi disease. Gives average yield of 12qtl/acre.

ICTP 8203: Ready to harvest in 70-85days. Corn is hard, bold seeded variety. Resistant to gosavi disease.

Samruddhi: Ready to harvest in 80days. Gives average yield of 10-11qtl/acre.

Parbhani Sampada: Ready to harvest in 75-80days. Gives average yield of 10-12qtl/acre. Resistant to gosavi disease.   

Other State varieties:

Avika Bajra chari: Dual purpose variety, used for green fodder as well as for grain purpose. Gives green fodder yield of 15ton/acre and grain yield of 4qtl/acre.  

RHB 177: Hybrid, resistant to drought conditions. Gives average yield of 8-10qtl/acre.

Raj 171: Variety, ready to harvest in 85days. Suitable for sowing under normal rainfall condition. Gives average grain yield of 8-10qtl/acre.

Hybrid: KBH 108, GHB 905, 86M89, MPMH 17, Kaveri Super Boss, Bio 448, MP 7872, MP 7792, 86M86, 86M66, RHB-173

Variety: JBV 3, PC 383, ICMV 221.

HHB 60: Ready to harvest in 70-75days. Gives average yield of 8qtl/acre.

ICMH 356: Ready to harvest in 70-75days. Tolerant to drought conditions and resistant to downey mildew.

Pusa 605: Hybrid variety, ready to harvest in 70-80days, Gives average yield of 3.6 to 4qtl/acre.

GHB 538: Ready to harvest in 75-80days. Gives average grain yield of 7qtl/acre.

MP 7792 and MP 7872: Suitable for late sowing. Ready to harvest in 75-85days.

RHB 121 (MH 892): Hybrid variety ready to harvest in 75-78days. Gives average yield of 8.8 to 10qtl/acre.

HHB 67 (Unnat): Suitable for scanty as well as high rainfall areas. Ready to harvest in 65-70days. Gives average yield of 6-8qtl/acre. 
 

Plough land thoroughly and bring soil to fine tilth. In heavy and weed infested soil, plough land for two times. At time of last ploughing add 6ton per acre of well decomposed cow dung in soil. In termite infected land, apply Chlorpyrifos@10kg/acre in soil.

Time of sowing
Optimum time for bajra sowing is first fortnight of June to 15th of July. In case of delay sowing, bajra sowing can be done up to 30th of July.

Spacing
Use row to row spacing of 40-45cm and plant to plant spacing of 12-15cm.
 
Sowing Depth
For good and quick germination of seeds, sow seeds at depth of 2cm to 3cm.

Method of sowing
For sowing use dibbling or drilling method.
 

Seed Rate
For sowing one acre land, use seed rate of 1.2-1.4kg/acre.

Seed Treatment
To protect from ergot disease, dipped seeds in 20% salt solution for five minutes. Remove and destroyed seeds which are floating on water and wash remaining seeds with clean water.
Then treat seeds with Thiram@3gm/kg of seeds or with Chlorpyriphos 20EC@4ml/kg of seeds. 
 

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Overall bajra crop required Nitrogen@35-40kg, Phosphorus@20-24kg and Potash@20-24kg per acre. Apply Nitrogen in form of Urea@77-90kg, Phosphorus in form of SSP@125-150kg and MOP@35-40kg/acre.

Apply half of Nitrogen and full amount of Potash and Phosphorus before sowing of bajra. Apply remaining dose of Nitrogen, 30-35days and 60days after sowing.
 

It is a rainfed crop therefore required less irrigation. Provide irrigation depending upon rainfall intensity and frequency. Avoid water stress at tillering, flowering and grain filling stage. Water stress at these stages will affect yield drastically. 

Keep field clean and free from weeds. After bajra sowing, apply Atrazine@0.3kg/acre in 200Ltr of water. 15-17days after sowing do thinning operation and keep only healthy crops.

• Pest and their control:
  

Root bug: If infestation is observed, to control do dusting of Methyl Parathion 2%@10kg/acre.

Blue beetles: To control blue beetles do spray of 1.5% Quinalphos@250ml per acre.

• Disease and their control:
  

Downy Mildew: In severe infestation, white growth appears on both upper and lower side of leaves. Earhead is transformed into leafy structure. It is spread rapidly in Cloudy weather.

If infestation is observed, to control take spray of Metalaxyl MZ@30gm/15Ltr of water. If necessary repeat spray with interval of 15 days.

 

Smut: As a preventive measure grow smut resistant varieties. If infestation is observed, remove infected plants and destroyed them away from field. Take spray of Mancozeb@2gm/Ltr of water.

Rust: Reddish brown to reddish orange spots are developed on foliage.

If infestation is observed, to control take spray of Mancozeb 75WP@2gm/Ltr water.  If necessary repeat sprays with interval of 8 days.

When grains become hard containing sufficient moisture, crop is ready for harvesting. Remove earheads from standing crop with help of sickle. Some farmer cut entire plant with sickle. After harvesting collect and stalk crop in open space and dry them for four-five days.

After proper drying, do threshing operation and separate grains from earheads. Then carry out cleaning operation. Sun Dry clean seeds and bring moisture level to 12-14%. Fill grains in gunny bags and stored them in dry place.