Page 39 - Prabudh Gram

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Land Preparation: practices help maintain soil health and prevent
nutrient leaching.
Proper land preparation is the foundation for
successful millet cultivation. Ploughing or tilling the Seeds and sowing:
soil to a depth of 15-20 cm improves soil aeration
and facilitates root penetration. Additionally, Selecting high-quality seeds is crucial for obtaining
incorporating organic matter like compost or optimal millet yields. Farmers should choose
farmyard manure enriches the soil with essential seeds from reliable sources, focusing on varieties
nutrients, enhances its water-holding capacity, and that are adapted to local agro-climatic conditions.
promotes microbial activity. Certified seeds that exhibit good germination
rates and disease resistance should be preferred.
Farmers can consider implementing conservation Pre-soaking seeds in water or nutrient solutions
agriculture techniques, such as minimum tillage before sowing can also accelerate germination
or zero tillage, to reduce soil erosion, conserve and improve seedling establishment.
moisture, and improve soil structure. These
Table 1: Seed rate of various millets

Seed rate (kg/ha)
Millets
Direct seeding (line sowing) Transplanting
Sorghum 12-15 -
Pearl millet 4-5 2
Finger millet 8-10 4

Proso millet 8-12 -
Barnyard millet 8-10 4-5
Kodo millet 10-15 4
Foxtail millet 8-10 -
Seed priming techniques, such as osmo-priming or (Table 1). The ideal spacing between plants
hydro-priming may be considered to enhance seed and rows depends on the millet variety and soil
vigour and ensure uniform germination. These fertility. Adequate spacing promotes better light
techniques involve soaking seeds in a controlled penetration, air flow, and nutrient availability.
solution to initiate the germination process,
followed by drying and storing them before sowing. Farmers can utilize specialized equipment like seed
drills or planters to enhance planting efficiency.
Planting Techniques: These tools ensure accurate seed placement and
reduce seed wastage. Additionally, using markers
Millet can be sown through various techniques, or guides during sowing helps maintain straight
including broadcasting, line sowing, or rows and uniform plant distribution.
transplanting. Broadcasting involves spreading
seeds uniformly across the field. Line sowing or Nutrient and water management:
drilling seeds in rows facilitates efficient water
and nutrient utilization and simplifies weed Millets are nutrient responsive, so combined
management. Transplanting seedlings, on the application of organic and synthetic fertilizers
other hand, ensures better establishment and help in increasing the productivity of millets. An
reduces competition from weeds. application of 10 t/ha farmyard manure along
with 60 kg, 30 kg, 30 kg N, P O and K O gives
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Determining the appropriate seeding rate is crucial higher yields in millets. Half dose of N and full dose
to optimize plant density and avoid overcrowding of P O and K O are applied at sowing 2-3 cm
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