PEARL MILLET

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. Along with human consumption, it is used for fodder purpose, its stalk is used to feed animals. Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, UP, Haryana, MP, Karnataka, AP and Tamilnadu are major Pearl millet growing areas in India.
 
Uttar pradesh produces near about 9lakh ton (2002-03) of bajara. Mathura, Kanpur, Agra, Allahbad, Farrukhabad, Aligarh, Moradabad, Etah, Badaun, Bulandshahar, Shahjahanpur, Ghazipur, Mainpuri, Pratapgarh are major bajra producing areas of UP. Previously, area under bajra cultivation was decreasing but considering its nutritional benefits, recently farmer giving preference to bajra sowing.

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 80-86 days.

MPMH 17: Ready to harvest in 79 days. Suitable for rain fed conditions.

MH 1747: Ready to harvest in 84 days. Suitable for kharif season.

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

86M86: Hybrid suitable for late sowing. Ready to harvest in 80-85 days.

86M66: Hybrid, suitable for late sowing. Ready to harvest in 90 days.

Kaveri Super: Hybrid, suitable for late sowing. Ready to harvest in 80 to 85 days.

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

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

Other State variety

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Time of sowing
Optimum time for bajra sowing is first fortnight of July.

Spacing
Use row to row spacing of 40-45 cm and plant to plant spacing of 10-15 cm.
 
Sowing Depth
Sow seeds at depth of 2.5 cm to 3 cm.

Method of sowing
For sowing use dibbling or drilling method.
 

Seed Rate
Use seed rate of 1.5-2 kg/acre depending upon sowing method.

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

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Overall bajra crop required Nitrogen@35-40 kg and Phosphorus@8-12 kg per acre. Apply Nitrogen in form of Urea@75-87 kg and Phosphorus in form of SSP@50-75 kg/acre.
Apply half of Nitrogen and full amount of Phosphorus before sowing of bajra. Apply remaining dose of Nitrogen, 30-35days after sowing.

Keep field clean and free from weeds. After bajra sowing, apply Atrazine@300gram/acre in 150Ltr of water. 15-17days after sowing do thinning operation and keep only healthy crops. 
 

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. 

• 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.
 

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. 

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.