AGRONOMY LECTURE SERIES
Topic: Millets Production - Sorghum & Pearl Millet
PART A: SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor)
Origin & Distribution
- Origin: Northeast Africa or Abyssinia. Warth (1937) opined India and Africa as origin centers.
- Global: Grown in Africa (Nigeria, Sudan), Asia, North & South America.
- India: Cultivated mainly in Central & Peninsular India (Maharashtra, Karnataka, MP, AP, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat).
Economic Importance
- World Status: 5th largest grain crop globally. Crucial for food security in semi-arid regions.
- Usage: High-energy, drought-tolerant grain. Used for livestock feed (poultry, beef, pork), ethanol production, and stems/foliage for hay, silage, and pasture.
Cultural Practices (Tamil Nadu Context)
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Seasons | Thaipattam (Jan-Feb), Chithiraipattam (Apr-May), Adipattam (Jun-Jul), Puratasipattam (Sep-Oct). |
| Varieties | CO 26, CO(S) 28, CO(S) 30, BSR 1, COH 4, Paiyur 1, Paiyur 2, APK 1. |
| Seed Rate | Irrigated Transplanted: 7.5 kg/ha Direct Sown: 10 kg/ha Rainfed: 15 kg/ha |
| Spacing | 45 cm x 15 cm (Transplanted and Direct Sown). |
| Fertilizer | Irrigated: 90:45:45 kg NPK/ha. Rainfed: 40:20:0 kg NPK/ha. |
Production Technology
- Nursery (for Transplanted): 7.5 cents (300 sq.m) for 1 ha. Treat seeds with Carbendazim (2g/kg) and Azospirillum. Transplant 15-18 day old seedlings.
- Main Field: Plough once/twice. Apply 12.5 t/ha FYM. Chisel soils with hard pan.
- Weed Management: Pre-emergence Atrazine 50 WP @ 500 g/ha on 3rd day + Hand weeding on 30-35 DAS.
-
Yield:
- Irrigated: Grain 4.0-6.0 t/ha; Fodder 15-20 t/ha.
- Rainfed: 50-60% of irrigated grain yield.
PART B: PEARL MILLET (Pennisetum glaucum)
Origin & Status
- Origin: Africa (primary center), then spread to India.
- Distribution: Widely grown in Africa and Asia. In India, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, UP, and Haryana account for 87% of the area.
- Importance: Most drought-tolerant cereal. Poor man's food. Grain is superior in nutrition to sorghum (11.6% Protein, 5% Fat, 2.7% Minerals).
Cultural Practices
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Seasons | Chithiraipattam (Mar-Apr) and Masipattam (Jan-Feb). |
| Varieties | CO 7, CO(Cu) 9, X 7, ICMV 221. |
| Seed Rate | Nursery: 3.75 kg/ha Direct Sown: 5 kg/ha |
| Spacing | 45 cm x 15 cm. |
| Fertilizer | Varieties: 70:35:35 kg NPK/ha. Hybrids: 80:40:40 kg NPK/ha. |
Specific Management Techniques
- Seed Treatment: Removal of ergot-affected seeds using salt solution (1kg salt in 10L water). Treat with Azospirillum.
- Nursery: Area 7.5 cents. Apply Phorate 10G or Carbofuran to protect from shoot fly. Transplant 15-18 day old seedlings.
- Weed Control: Atrazine 50 WP @ 500 g/ha on 3rd day. Hand weed on 30-35 DAS.
-
Yield:
- Irrigated: 3.0 - 3.5 t/ha.
- Rainfed: 1.2 - 1.5 t/ha.
PROFESSOR'S EXAM NOTE
Comparative Key Points:
1. Drought Tolerance: Pearl Millet is the most drought-tolerant among cereals, even more so than Sorghum.
2. Shoot Fly Mgmt: In Sorghum, using a higher seed rate (12.5 kg/ha) in endemic areas and removing affected seedlings is a key cultural control.
3. Transplanting Benefit: Transplanting Sorghum reduces the main field duration by 10 days and helps avoid shoot fly attack during the vulnerable early stage.
