INTRODUCTION
- Pennisetum glaucum is the scientific name for Pearl Millet, which belongs to the Grasses family.
- India is the world's leading pearl millet grower.
- Pearl millet is well-suited to conditions such as drought, low soil fertility, and high temperatures.
- Pearl millet is farmed on more than 26,000 square kilometers of land around the world.
- Pearl millet is a summer annual crop that is well-suited to double cropping and groundnut rotations.
REQUIREMENTS
• Soil- Clay loam soil.
• Cultivation- Arid-western plain.
• Susceptibility- Susceptible to pest diseases.
• Temperature- 33°–34°C.
• pH- 3.2
• Rainfall- Optimum rainfall requires 600 to 800 mm but pearl millet can be grown in areas that receive even less than 350mm of seasonal rainfall.
IRRIGATION
- If water is available during protracted dry spells, irrigation should be provided at important stages of crop growth, such as tillering, flowering and grain developmental stages.
- Pearl millet should be irrigated at regular intervals during the summer, depending on the crop's needs.
- Bajra is a rain-fed crop that requires little irrigation because of its drought resistance.
- It has been discovered that irrigating the crop at important growth stages such as maximal tillering, flowering, and grain filling will considerably improve production.
CULTIVATION
- Bajra can thrive in a variety of soil conditions.
- It grows best in black cotton soil, sandy loam soil with good drainage, and other similar conditions.
- This crop does not grow well in acidic or wet soil.
- When cultivating it, stay away from wet soil. It thrives in a low-pH environment.
- Bajra can be cultivated in areas where wheat and maize would fail.
NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY
DISEASES