Finger Millets Production Guide: A Step-By-Step Cultivation Practices

Ragi, also referred to as finger millet, is a significant cereal crop that is extensively grown in India. It can grow in various soil types and climates and is very nutrient-dense. This involves preparing the ground, planting, weeding, fertilizing, irrigation, and harvesting finger millets in India. It also addresses strategies for managing pests and diseases to ensure a productive and profitable harvest of finger millet. By implementing these techniques, farmers can boost their profits and yields while promoting sustainable agriculture.

Finger Millets Production Guide

Best Package and Practices of Finger Millet High Production

High-yielding varieties, high-quality seeds, appropriate soil fertility maintenance, pest and disease management, and other best practices are essential for high Finger millet production. Further crucial practices include timely sowing, suitable weed control, effective irrigation management, and timely harvesting. These techniques, modern technology, and agronomic techniques can help farmers get the most Finger millet from their crops.

Land/ Field Preparation and Soil Requirements for Finger Millet

Choose a different field to reduce the number of volunteer plants. When sowing, ensure the soil is weed-free and has proper drainage. For a delicate tilth, deep plow and harrow 3-4 times. Finger millet grows best in fertile, well-draining sandy loam with a pH of 5.8-6.5. Avoid regions with heavy rainfall and ensure adequate moisture for rain-fed crops.

Temperature, Climatic, and Rainfall Requirements for Finger Millet

Finger millet cultivation needs wintertime temperatures of 22 to 25 °C and daytime temperatures of 30 to 34 °C for the greatest growth. The ideal annual rainfall is about 100 centimeters. Finger millet can be grown in various soils, from rich loams to poor low uplands with excellent organic matter.

Propagation Method and Seed Quality for Finger Millet

To prevent diseases passed on through seeds, it is possible to grow finger millets from high-quality seeds treated with fungicides and insecticides.

Seed Treatment for Finger Millet

Dip the leafy section of Finger Millet seedlings in a solution containing 0.1% carbendazim to prevent the blast from spreading from the nursery to the main field. A solution of Azospirillum inoculants in 40 to 45 liters of water should be dripped over the root section of Finger Millet seedlings for approximately 30 minutes.

In case you missed it: Sorghum Production Guide: A Step-By-Step Cultivation Practices

Seed Rate and Spacing for Finger Millet

Finger millet seedlings should be sown in furrows at a seed rate of 3 kg per hectare, with a spacing of 10 cm between seeds and 30 cm between rows. For relocated crops, 4 to 5 kg/ha at 25 cm x 15 cm spacing may be needed.

Sowing Method for Finger Millet

Finger millet can be sown by broadcasting, line planting, or dibbling. Broadcasting entails spreading seeds uniformly by hand, whereas line sowing uses furrows, and dibbling uses small holes. All methods require sufficient moisture and a 20-25 cm spacing.

Crop Rotation and Intercropping in Finger Millet

Crop rotation is crucial for finger millet farming as it enhances yield, reduces chemical fertilizer usage, and maintains soil fertility. Common finger millet crop rotations in North India include gram, mustard, tobacco, barley, and linseed. Intercropping finger millet with maize yields the highest results, while finger millet with field bean or fodder sorghum enhances productivity. Combining finger millet with pigeon peas results in higher returns, while black or green gram is profitable. Additionally, intercropping finger millet with mustard is also a profitable combination.

Manure & Fertilizer Applications in Finger Millet

For optimal finger millet growth, apply 40-60 kg N/ha, 20-30 kg P/ha, and 20-30 kg K/ha. Increase the doses to 40-50 kg P/ha or K/ha if the soil is deficient. Additionally, 5-10 tons of farmyard manure or well-decomposed cow dung before sowing can improve soil structure and provide extra nutrients for higher yields.

Weed Management and Herbicide Application in Finger Millet

Weeds like wild oats, black grass, barnyard grass, goosegrass, sedge, nutgrass, and amaranthus are common in finger millet fields. Cultural practices such as timely sowing, crop rotation, and intercropping can reduce weed infestation. Mechanical control like hand weeding, hoeing, and shallow cultivation can also be used. Herbicides like atrazine, glyphosate, and butachlor are used for weed control. However, following label instructions and using protective equipment to prevent environmental and health hazards is important.

Water Management in Finger Millet

8-14 irrigations are required depending on soil type, weather conditions, and variable length. Irrigate the crops once every 6-8 days in light soils.

Heavy soils: every 12-15 days.

Disease Control in Finger Millet

Blast, downy mildew, smut, and ergot are specific diseases affecting finger millet. Practices for managing disease include planting disease-resistant varieties, crop rotation, and keeping adequate field spacing and drainage. To manage blast and downy mildew, fungicides like triadimefon, propiconazole, and mancozeb can be used. Systemic fungicides like carbendazim, propiconazole, and hexaconazole can be used to treat smut and ergot.

Pest Control in Finger Millet

Pests commonly targeting finger millet include the shoot fly, stem borer, armyworm, leafhopper, and aphids. It is advised for shoot flies to treat seeds with neonicotinoid insecticides like imidacloprid to manage these pests. Stem borer can be managed with the help of systemic pesticides like emamectin benzoate and chlorantraniliprole.

Armyworms can be controlled with synthetic pyrethroids like lambda-cyhalothrin and cypermethrin, while leafhoppers can be controlled with systemic pesticides like imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. Insecticides like acetamiprid and thiamethoxam can control aphids. To avoid harming the environment and human health, proper application methods

Harvesting and Threshing of Finger Millet

Conventional harvesting machines start by cutting off the earheads with a sickle, then chop the straw as close to the ground as possible. For drying, the earheads are piled high on the threshing floor and exposed to the climate for one to four days. The process of threshing can be done by either trampling the grain with bullocks or beating it with implements.

In case you missed it: How to Grow Millets Organically: A Step-By-Step Production Guide

Finger Millet Yield per Acre

Even when using high-yielding cultivars and chemical fertilizers, yields can be at most 15 quintals per acre. However, only 1kg of local variety seeds are sown in the guli technique (square method of finger millet transplanting), and a yield of 18-20 quintals per acre is recorded.

Conclusion

Finger millet is a significant product that can withstand drought and has a high nutritional value. It can be effectively grown with the right soil preparation, choice of seeds, planting methods, and management of nutrients. High yields can also result from good weed and pest control techniques. Farmers can increase their harvests and their way of life by using the suggested cultivation techniques.

Finger Millets Production Guide: A Step-By-Step Cultivation Practices