Pearl millet is an important crop cultivated in Africa and Asia. In India, it is mainly grown in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. India is the largest producer of pearl millet, with production of 8-9 million tons annually from an area of 9-10 million hectares. Productivity has increased to 780 kg/ha due to improved varieties and management practices such as nutrient and weed management. Pearl millet grows well in warm temperatures and tolerates drought conditions and low rainfall levels.

1. ALLPPT.com _ Free PowerPoint Templates, Diagrams and Charts
CROP-BAJRA
Sci.Name-Pennisetum glaucum
Variety – SHANKAR MULTICUT

2. Botanical Name : Pennisetum glaucum
Family : Gramineae
Origin : Western Africa
Distribution : Pearl millet is cultivated mostly in Africa (about 14 million ha) and
Asia (about 12 million ha)
Pearl Millet

3. Pearl millet Area in India
• India is the largest producer of pearl millet.
• Area (9–10 million ha)
• Production (8-9 million t)
• Average productivity of 780 kg/ha.
• It is grown as irrigated crop during the summer season in
GJ, MH, AP, KN and TN.
• Summer pearl millet is popular in Gujarat with very high
yield exceeding 4–5 t/ha with excellent grain quality.

4. production
As compared to the early 1980s, Pearl millet area in India declined by 26%
during 2000–04, but production increased by 19% owing to 44% increase i
n productivity.

5. Soil and Climate
• It yields best on fertile, well-drained loamy soils.
• Pearl millet not grow well in waterlogged conditions.
• It is grown on soils of poor fertility with low organic matter co
ntent, but it yields low.
• Pearl millet can grow even under unfavorable conditions of dr
ought stress and high temperatures.
• Pearl millet is a warm-weather crop and grows best at 30-34°C
air temperature.
• Germination = 23-32°C.
• The optimum rainfall requirement 600 and 800 mm.
• But, pearl millet can be grown in areas which receive even less
than 350 mm of seasonal rainfall.

6. – Some identified varieties for north
• Pusa 23 (MH 169), Pusa 322, ICMH 4
51, ICHM 356
• HHB 60, 67, 68, 50
• RHB 30, 90
MH 605 (Pusa 605), MH 790, MH 782

7. Management Practices
Field Preparation;
• Planting Method- Ridge & Furrow
• Field was ploughed, made well fried soil, 3 times
• Well decomposed FYM of 10 t/ha was applied.
• Spacing Maintained- Row To Row 45cm
Plant To Plant 10cm
• Depth Of Sowing- 3-5 cm

8. Management Practices
 Seed rate 4kg/ha
 sowing was done in row, mixing with sand.
 Seed treatment with carbendazim @1.5 g/kg of see
d

9. Nutrient Management
1. FYM- 10 t/ha
2. Nutrient dose - 60:40:20 :: N: P2O5:K20 per Ha
Time N P2O5 K2O
BASAL 1/2 FULL FULL
30DAS ½ 0 0

10. Germination
 Germination started 7 t 10 days after sowing
We have encountered max 705 germination.
To mitigate the gaps transplanting was done from densly pop
ulated area.

11. Thinning and Weeding
 To maintain optimum plant population and reduce crop
weed competition.
 Encourage plant vigour
 enhance efficient nutrient uptake,

12. Weed control
 Yield losses of more than 70% due to weeds have been reported from
weed control experiments.
 It is necessary to keep the crop weed-free during the first 30 days after
sowing.
 Cultural practices :
 Adopting proper crop rotation practices reducing the weed competitio
n in pearl millet crop.
 Intercropping also helps in smothering the weeds with good crop cover
over the land surface.
 Mulching the soil surface helps to suppress the weeds and also he in
conserving the soil moisture.

13. Chemical control :
Pre-emergence application :
It applied after sowing but before emergence of seedling.
- Atrazine (0.5-1.0) kg a.i./ha
- Pendimethalin (1.0-1.5)
- Tebutryn (1.0-2.0) for light soils
- Norea (1.0-2.0) for heavy soils
Post-emergence application :
In case of severe infestation.
Low rates of 2,4-D (0.5-1.0 kg/ha) may be applied when the plants a
re about 10 to 30 cm tall.

14. Water Management
1. Pearl millet is mainly rainfed crop.
2. Only about 8% of pearl millet area is irrigated in India.
>Moisture conservation :
1. Soil and water conservation practices significance to increase pe
arl millet production.
2. Antitranspirants and reflect ants may minimize the water loss du
e to transpiration.
3. Deep ploughing increases rain water into soil.
4. Mulches are effective in reducing evaporation losses

15. Vegetative stage

16. Irrigation

17. Head emergence

18. Flowering and pollination

19. Grain filling

20. HARVESTING
Harvest the crop when grains become hard and contain about
20% moisture.
Harvesting is done by cutting the entire plant or removing
the ear heads first and cutting down the plants later on. The
ear heads after harvesting, should be dried in the sun. The
grains are separated either by beating the ear heads by sticks
or by trampling
by bullocks. The threshed grain should be cleaned and dried
in sun to bring the moisture content down to 12% for safe
storage