Introduction
Bajra is popularly known as “pearl millet” and belongs to the family of Gramineae. This grain is basically originated from India or Africa. Bajra is a coarse grain crop and is considered to be the poor man’s staple nourishment and suitable to cultivate in drylands. Major Bajra production states in India are Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat. Bajra can also be used as valuable animal fodder. It is one of the major crops of China, India, South-Eastern Asia, Sudan, Pakistan, Arabia, Russia & Nigeria. Major Bajra Production States in India: Top Bajra producing state in Rajasthan followed by Maharashtra, Haryana, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh. The top high-yielding state is Tamil Nadu.
Varieties
JKBH 1008, HHB 272, MPMH 21, 86M01, HHB 234, Dhanshakti, MH-2114, RHB 223, Hi Pearl 51+, HHB-67, Nandi-5, Nandi-52, Nandi-61, Nandi-64, Nandi-65, Nandi-75, MH 1928, 86M84, GHB-905, Nandi-72, MPMH 17, HHB 299, PB 1705, XMT 1497, Bio 8145, 86M82, 86M13, Nandi-75, KBH 108, 86M89, KBH 3940, 86M01, Dhanshakti, MH-2114, I.C.M.V.-221, Hi Pearl 51+, HHB-67, Nandi-5, Nandi-52, Nandi-61, Nandi-64, Nandi-65, Nandi-75, MH 1928, 86M84, GHB-905, MPMH 17, PB 1705, XMT 1497, JKBH 1100, JKBH 1105, Bio 8145, 86M82, Nandi-75,KBH 3940 Nandi-75, MH 1928, 86M84, GHB-905, Nandi-72, MPMH 17, GK 1116, HHB 299, PB 1705, XMT
Seed rate and spacing
Seed rate 3-3.5 kg/ha for dibbling method and 4-5 kg/ha for drilling method
Spacing Row to row 40-45 cm, plant to plant 10-12 cm and depth 2-3 cm.
Soil Requirement
Bajra can be grown in a wider range of soil. However, It thrives best in black cotton soil, sandy loam soil having well drainage. This crop does not prefer acidic and waterlogging soil. Avoid saturated soil for its cultivation. It grows successfully well in soil with low pH. Bajra can be easily grown in regions where other crops like wheat and maize would not survive.
Fertilizer doses
The fertilizer requirement of local varieties of Pearl millet can easily be met by the application of 10-15 tonnes of compost or farmyard manure per hectare. But the nutrient supply for the high-yielding varieties and hybrids should be supplemented with inorganic fertilizers. The amount of fertilizer should be given on the basis of soil test value for maximum profit. General recommendations based on experimental findings are 100-120 kg nitrogen, 40-60 kg P2O5, and 30-40 kg K2O per hectare. Half dose of nitrogen and full doses of phosphorus and potassium should be applied at the time of sowing in furrows approximately 3-5 centimeters below the seed. This can be done by placing fertilizers through a funnel and dropping the seed in the same furrow by hand wherever seed-cum-fertiliser drills are not available. The remaining nitrogen is top dressed in the two splits, one at the time of thinning (three to four weeks after sowing) and rest at the ear formation stage. This dose of nitrogen can be withheld if moisture is limiting. In barani conditions, foliar spray of 3% urea is also recommended.
Pest of Bajra
1.Shoot fly:Atherigona approximata
Nature of damage: Damage by larvae starts at the seedling stage (5 to 30 days after seedling emergence) will lead to the typical dead heart symptoms. The larva migrates to the upper side of the leaf and moves along the leaf whorl until it reaches the growing point where the larvae cut the growing point. As a result, the central leaf dries up forming a dead heart, which can be pulled out easily and produces a rotting smell.
Management Practices: Set up the low-cost fish meal traps @ 4/acre till the crop is 30 days old. Removal of the seedlings with dead hearts and keep the optimum plant stand in the field.
Plough after harvest to remove and destroy the stubbles.
Soil application:Phorate 10% CG @30kg/ha (12kg/acre)
2.White grub:Holotrichia consanguinea
Nature of damage: Yellowing and wilting of leaves.Drying of the entire crown. Affected seedlings come off easily when pulled. Cause extensive damage to the roots and base of the shoot.
Management Practices: Timely sowing should be done.Field sanitation, rouging. Destroy the alternate host plants. Adoption of crop rotation.
Soil application: Phorate 10% CG @25kg/ha (10kg/acre)
3.Stem borer:Chilo partellus
Nature of damage: Withering and drying of the central shoot -“dead heart”.Red mining in the midrib. Boreholes are visible on the stem near the nodes. Tender folded leaves have parallel “shot holes”. Affected parts of the stem may show internally tunneling caterpillars.
Management Practices: Collect the stubbles after harvest and burn to destroy diapausing borers.Set up light traps till midnight to attract and kill the stem borer moth.
4.Pink stem borer: Sesamia inferens.
Nature of damage: Pink larva enters into the stem causing dead heart symptoms.
Management Practices: Collect the stubbles after harvest and burn to destroy diapausing borers.Set up light traps till midnight to attract and kill the stem borer moths.
5.Grain midge: Geromyia penniseti
Nature of damage: Maggot feeds on developing grains. Grain less glumes with the white pupal case attached to the tip of the spikelet.
Management Practices: Removal of Johnson grassy weed
6.Stink bug:Nezara viridula
Nature of damage: Grains become chaffy or spotted black and shriveled. A stinking smell emanates from the bug.
Management Practices: Removal of weeds, field sanitization, Roughing, and destroy the alternate host.
Diseases of Bajra
- Blast: Pyricularia grisea Sacc. (Hebert) Barr
Symptoms: Grey leaf spot on leaves & stem. Lesions usually start near the leaf tips or leaf margins. Young lesions are pale green to greyish green, later turning yellow to gray with age. Disease becomes severe in crowded plant stands.
Management Practices: Burning of diseased straw and stubbles. Planting of disease-free seeds. Avoid excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers. Avoid early sowing.
Foliar spray: Zineb75%WP @ 1.5-2 kg in 750-1000 liter water (600-800 gm/acre for 300 – 400 litre water).
2.Rust: Puccinia substriata var. Indica
Symptoms: Reddish Brown Powdery pustules on lower leaves. Symptoms are Mostly on the upper surface of leaves and also on the stem.Large Pustules on leaf blades and sheaths. Severely rusted plants look reddish-brown.
Management Practices: Use resistant hybrids/ varieties. Sow the crop with the onset of the monsoon. Destruction of collateral hosts: Ischaemum pretosum&Panicummaximum on the field bunds.
3. Downy mildew/ Green ear disease: Sclerospora graminicola (Sacc.) J. Schröt
Symptoms: Pale, chlorotic, broad streaks extending from base to tip of leaves. Grayish white downy fungal growth on the lower leaf surface. Stunted, the transformation of floral parts into leafy structures. Malformed floral structures of ears become brown and dry.
Management Practices: Use resistant varieties.Deep Ploughing and soil solarisation.Avoidance of low-lying fields and waterlogging.Maintaining optimum plant spacing
Seed treatment:
Slurry seed treatment with Metalaxyl35%WS @ 6g/Kg Seed.
Seed treatment with Metalaxyl-M 31.8% ES @ 2.0 ml/kg seed.
Foliar spray:
Metalaxyl8%+ Mancozeb64%WP @ 2kg in 500 litre water (800 gm/acre for 200 litre water).
4.Smut: Moesziomyces parepenicillariae (Bref.) Vanky
Symptoms: Infected florets, ovaries are converted into sori, sori are larger than grains. Initially, the sori are bright green, later turn brown to black covered by a thin membrane.
Management Practices: Use tolerant/resistant varieties.Deep summer ploughing.Crop rotation with the non-host plant. Collect smutted heads in cloth bags & dip in boiling water to kill the pathogen.
5.Ergot: Claviceps fusiformis Loveless
Symptoms: Honeydew Substance of creamy to light pinkish ooze out of the infected florets. Within two weeks these droplets dry out as sclerotia. Dark brown to black sclerotia develop in place of seeds on the panicle. Sclerotia are larger than seeds and irregularly shaped.
Management Practices: Use of resistant varieties. Early sowing, during June- July with the onset of monsoon. Eradicate Weeds:Cenchrus ciliaris and Panicum antidotale.
