This document provides an overview of cultivation practices for pearl millet. It discusses the botanical description, economic importance, varieties, climatic requirements, soil type, sowing methods, nutrient management, irrigation, weed control, and harvesting. Key details include that pearl millet is grown in India, Africa, and other areas for food, fodder, and beer. It prefers well-drained soils and temperatures between 20-34°C, and is drought tolerant. Common varieties and sowing practices vary by region. Nutrient needs include nitrogen, phosphorus, and sometimes zinc or iron supplements. Weeding is important before tillering and flowering stages.

1. Cultivation practices of pearl millet

2. OVER VIEW:- Botanical description
 Economic Importance
 Area Production and Productivity
 Varieties
 Climatic Requirement
 Soil Type and Field Preparation
 Sowing Time
 Method of Sowing
 Seed Rate and Spacing
 Seed Treatment
 Nutrient Management
 Water Management
 Weed Management
 Intercultural Operation
 Cropping Systems
 Yield attributes
 Harvesting and Threshing
 Yield
 Contingency planning

3. Botany of the crop
SYSTEMATIC POSITION:-
 DIVISION :- Phanerogams
 SUB-DIVISION :- Angiosperms
 CLASS :- Monocotyledon
 SERIES : - Glumacea
 SUBCLASS :- Glumiflorae
 FAMILY :- Poaceae
 TRIBE :- Paniceae

4. BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
Crop :- Bajra
Scientific Name :- Pennesitum glaucum
Common Name :- Pearl Millet
Family :- Gramineae
Tamil :- Cumbu
Telugu :- Sajalu
Origin :- Africa

5.  HABITAT :- Mesophyte
 HABIT :-Erect, annual , tillering habit and growing
upto three meters height.
 ROOT :-Fibrous root system . Stilt roots are seen in
lower nodes
 STEM :-Solid , slender or stout ,round . Nodes slightly
swollen with a string of silky hairs. Have tillering
habit . Lower inter nodes are shorter in length and
upper ones are longer may be pubescent or glabrous.

6. Economic Importance:-
 Pearl millet is a stable food crop of about 100 million
peoples in rural areas of India and sub saharan
Africa.
 Roti or Chapathi,which are unleaved flat breads
prepared using pearlmillet flour or common in Asia.
 Porridges and cooked Grains are also used.
 In Northern India it is prepared in during winter
while wheat becomes common in summer diet.
 It is also used for fried preparations,foods such as
fermented products and beer.

7. Varieties of Pancakes are prepared using pearlmillet
flour in Africa and Pearlmillet beer is used throughout
Africa.
Fura or cheese is the traditional African snacks
prepared using steamed pearlmillet flour and cream.
It is used as fodder in Africa and Asia.
Oxalic is very high.So it is not relished by cattle.
In central America it is mainly cultivated for forage
purpose.It is also grown as pasture grass
It is rich in:
*Protein-12.6% *Fibre-1.2%
*Fat-5% *Carbohydrate-60-70%

8. It is largely grown in India.
The important pearlmillet producing countries are
India,Africa,Pakisthan,China,Sudan and Egypt.
In India,it is cultivated in an area of 10 m.ha,with
production 7.9 million tones,and productivity of 791
kg/ha.
Area under cultivation is high in Rajasthan,followed by
Maharashtra,Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.

9. In Tamilnadu,it is cultivated in an area of 2.31 ha.,with
production of2.51.tonnes and productivity of 1226kg/ha.
NilgriThe production is more in Rajasthan,followed by
Maharastra,Gujarat,Tamilnadu ana Uttarpradesh.
In tamilnadu it is grown in all the districts except
Kanchipuram,Tiruvallur and nilgris .

11. STATES HYBRIDS VARIETIES
Andhra pradhesh GHB 558 , ICMH 356 ,
GK 1004.
Ananth ,ICMV 221.
Gujarat GHB 558 , GHB 577 ,
GHB 538 , RHB 121.
Pusa comp.334 , Raj 171 ,
GICKV 96752.
Haryana HHB 146 , HHB 117 ,
HHB 68 , ICMH 356.
Raj 171 , GICKV 96752 ,
Pusa comp,,334.
Karnataka GHB 588 , ICMH 356 ,
MLBH 267.
ICMV 221 , Pusa
comp..334.
Madhya pradhesh HHB 146, MLBH 285 ,
ICMH 3356 , GHB 577.
GICKV 96752 , Pusa
comp 334.
Maharastra Saburi, Pusa 23 , GHB
526 , PB 180 .
Raj 171, ICMV 221 ,
Samruddhi.
Rajasthan RHB 127 , RHB 121 ,
RHB 90.
Raj 171, GICKV 96752 ,
Pusa comp , 383
Tamil nadu GHB 558 , GBH 526 ,
PAC 903.
ICMV 221 , Co 7

12. It is grown in a wide variety of soils,but being sensitive to water logging.
It grows well in well drained sandy loams.
It is sensitive to acidic soil
It is grown succesfully in black cotton soil,alluvial soils and red soils of
India

13. It is a rapid growing,warm weather crop and has resistance for
drought.
The best temparature is between 20 and 28 C .
It grows best 30-34C air temparature.
Germination at 23-32c
It can withstand even dessication.
It is highly suitable for the areas having rainfall ranges from
400-750mm.

14. Even 150mm of rainfall is sufficient.
Rainfall during vegetataive phase is favourable while at
flowering is not conductive as it washes of pollen and
there is a poor seed setting.
The crop grows better in light showers followed by
bright sunshine hours .
Usually bajra is grown, where it is not possible o grow
sorghum because of high temparature and low rainfall.
It is grown as kharif crop in Northern India, while in
Tamil nadu,Karnataka and Punjab,it is grown under
irrigated condition during summer

15. Growth Stages:
There are four stages,namely
1. Seedling stage (1-18days)
2. Tillering Stage(19-35 days)
3. Flowering stage(36-55days)
4. Maturity Stage(56-85 days)

17. In India it is grown in three seasons viz.,
* Kharif –june-october [rainfed]
*Winter-november-february [rainfed]
*Summer -march-june
During summer ,it is grown in Tamil Nadu,Karnataka,Punjab, and
Gujarat as an irrigated crop.
Sowing of kharif pearl millet should be done with oneset of
moonsoon i.e first fortnight of july in north and central parts of the
country.
Summer pearl millet should be sown last week of january to 1st week
of february to obtain higher production of summer pearl.
First fortnight of october is appropriate time for rabi season in
Tamilnadu

18. Timely sowing ,which ensures higher yield.
Provide favourable conditions for sowing , allowing
germination , emergence and good plant development.
Maintenance of fertility and productivity.
Summer ploughing
Good seed preparation and is essential for the successful
establishment of the crop.

19. Loosening the soil.
Deep ploughing with iron plough and
country plough is to be done twice to bring
the tilth
If there is hard pan ,chisel ploughing is done
Apply about 12.5tonnes/ha of farmyard
manure or compost during last ploughing .
Application of azospirillum to the soil should
be done@ 10 packets [2kg].
Levelling the soil.

20. Seed treatment with bio pesticides [Tricoderma harzianum @
4kg] or thiram 75% dust @3g kg seed will help against soilborne
diseases.
Seed treatment with 300-mesh sulphur powder @4g kg seeds
controls the smut disease.
For removing ergot affected seeds, they are soaked in 10% salt
solution.[1 kg of NaCl in 10lit of water].
Seeds are treated with Azospirillum [600] and
phosphobacterium to enhance the availability of nitrogen and
phosphorous.0.

21. Seed rate for
Direct sowing _5kg /ha.
Transplanting _3.75kg/ha.
Spacing:-For arid western plain of rajasthan,haryana and
kutch of gujarat pearl millet should be planted in rows 60cm
apart ,maintaining low plant population of 1.00 to .25 lac/ha.
For the area receiving rainfall more than 450mm, the crop
should be kept at spacing of 45x10-15cm.

22. Three methods of pearl millet sowing are followed:
a. Sowing on a flat surface .
b. Sowing on a ridge and furrow system.
c. Sowing on a broadbed system

23. Nursey preparation:nursery required is 7.5 cents [300 sq.m] for
one ha.
The land is ploughed in such a way to bringfine tilth
Application of 750kg of farmyard manure or compost is done
and incorporated.
Raised beds of 3.0 x 1.5m with 30cm channel are formed.
Small rills not deeper than 1cm on the raised bed are opened.
About 3.75kg of seeds is sown in 7.5 cents at 0.5kg/cent and
500kg of FYM or compost is used for sprinkling for covering the
seeds.
LAND SHAPING:for irrigated crop [transpanting],either
ridges and furrows at 45cm apart or beds of convinient size
depanding upon the water availability are formed. For rainfed
crop,Flat sowing is followed.for rainfed crop Pora method of
sowing is better than kera method.

24. TRANSPLANTING:pull out the seedlings is recommended
when age of seedling is 15_18days. A spacing of 45 x15cm for all
the varieties except CO 7,spacing is35x15cm
DIRECT SOWING: As in transplanted crop,a spacing of
45x15cm for all varieties ecept CO 7 and CO 7,35X15cm row
spacing is adopted .
If pulse is intercropped,a spacing of 35x15cm for cumbu and
30x10cm for cowpea and other pulses is adopted.

25. The low yields in pearl millet due to the crop being grown
under poor soils , low nutrient content ,eratic rainfall conditions
etc.
IRRIGATED CROP
*HYBRIDS-80Kg N2:40Kg P2O5:40Kg K2O5/ha.
*VARIETIES-70Kg N2:35KG P2O5:35Kg K2O5/ha.
RAINFED CROP
40Kg N2:20P2O5:0K2O5/ha.

26. Nitrogen plays a important role for good growth
Nitrogen availability to plants is reflected in dark green colour
of stems and leaves ,and vigorous growth and development of
pearl millet.
Application of nitrogen is essential for acceptable yields .
About 60-80kg/ha is the optimum dose.
The applied nitrogen may be lost due to leaching with heavy
rains ,so only about half of the recommended dosage should be
applied at seed bed preparation . The remaining half of nitrogen
is side dressed when the crop is 25 days old.

27. To provide energy for the growth and development of pearl
millet plants
Without phosphorous plants cannot grow even when nitrogen
supply is plenty
It takes phosphorous from seedling stage to grain filling stage.
SSP is good source of phosphorous requirement for pearl
millet.
Application of 100% of P is recommended as basal at 5cm
depth.

28. Provides resistance to insect pests ,diseases and water stress
Improves the quality of the crop produce
If a soil contains less than 150kg ha-1 of available potassium
,recommended dose of potassium application results higher
yield in pearl millets.
Application of 100% of K is recommended as basal at 5cm
depth.

29. For Zn deficient soil,application of ZnSO4 at 25kg/ha is done
Iron deficiency occurs in saline and calcareous soil.
Based on the level of the deficiency,12.5 kg of FeSO4 is
recommended.
If not applied basally , foliar application of 1% FeSO4 at
vegetative phase is required.
Iron deficiency occurs in saline and calcareous soil.

30. It is highly drought tolerant crop and water requirement is
300-350mm.
Irrigation at available soil moisture of 50% or optimum
IW/CPE ratio 0.4 is sufficent .
The critical stages are tillering and flowering.
Under limited moisture conditions ,threenirrigations can be
recommended for panicle initiation ,flag leaf,and flowering in
addition to sowing irrigation.

31. Normally 5 irrigations are recommended for the stages viz,
Tillering,panicle initiation,flag leaf,flowering ,dough stages in
addition to sowing.
Summer irrigated pearl millet require six irrrigations for the
high yields at given stages,
 * transplanting
* 1week after transplanting
*3 week after transpanting
* Panicle initiation
* Flowering
* Grain development

32. Soil and water conservation practices significnace to increase
pearl millet production .
Antitransparents and reflectants may minimize the water loss
due to transpirant.
Deep ploughing increases rain water into soil.
Mulches are effective in reducing evaporation losses

33. TILLERING
FLOWERING

34. Weed reduces the yield by 50% .
Crop weed competetion is up to 35 days .
Pre emergence application of atrazine at 500g/ha followed by
hand weeding on 30-35 days after transplanting or sowing.
If the herbicide is not used ,weeding is done on 15th day and
again between 30 and 35 days after transplanting.

35. For direct sown crop ,hoeing and weeding may be done on
20-25 days after sowing
Atrazine should not be used for intercropping systems.
PRE-EMERGENCE APPLICATION:
Is applied after sowing but before emergence of seedling.
-Atrazine [0.5-1.0]
-Pendimethalin[1.0-1.5]
POST EMERGENCE APPLICATION:
*In case of severe infestations
* low rates of 2,4-D[0.5-1.0kg/ha] may be applied when
the plants are about 10 to 30cm tall.

36. Thinning or gap filling is followed at the time of first
interculture .
Hand weeding is followed to control the weeds or application of
atrazine @0.5kg/ha would take care of most of the weeds.

38. Crop rotations:
Bajra –wheat
Bajra-barley
Bajra-gram
Bajra-pea
Bajra-potato
Inter cropping
 Bajra+groundnut
 Bajra+black gram
 Bajra+green gram
 Bajra+castor
 Bajra+cowpea

39. MAJOR INSECT PESTS
White grub
Shoot fly
Grass hoppers
Termites
Grey weevil
Stem borers
MAJOR DISEASES
Downy mildew
Rust
Smut
Ergot
Blast

40.  Total number of tillers per unit area.
 Number of productive tillers per unit area.
 Length of ear head.
 Number of filled grains per ear head.
 Test weight.

41. When the leaves turn yellow colour and when the seeds
become hardend and having 20%moisture, harvesting is done
by removing the earheads first and cutting down the plants
later.
The ear heads after harvesting should be dried well in sun
before threshing.
The grains are seperated either by sticks or tampling by
bullocks .

42. If mechanically thresher is available ,thresh it or spread it and drag a
stoneroller over it
The threshed grain is cleaned and dried in the sun to bring the
moisture to 12-14% for safe storage
For long term storage [more than 6months] , grain moisture content
should be less than 12%.

43. IRRIGATED :-
*Grain yield-3.0-3.5t/ha.
*stover yield -10.0t/ha.
RAINFED:-
*Grain yield-1.2-1.5t/ha.
*stover yield-7-7.5t/ha.

44. To conserve in situ rainwater , deep plough the field during
summer on heavy soils of Maharastra ,Tamilnadu,
Andhrapradhesh,Karnataka and Rajasthan.
Adopt suitable intercropping system early maturing
hybrids/composites of pearl millet in between under late onset
of moonsoon.
Keep the crop free by timely weeding
If dry spell occurs immediately after sowing ,replant pearl
millet in between the existing rows.
Under excess rain fall during vegetative phase ,additional dose
of 20kg N/ha should be applied.

45. THANK YOU
M. Lavanya – 111718012057 .
R.Samyuktha - 111718012100
.
A . Sanjana - 111718012103.