Millet
Millet is one of many seed grasses that can be used as a food source. The grain, similar in nutrient composition to corn, is richer in protein and fibre. Millet has been cultivated for thousands of years and is believed to be one of the first grains harvested by humans for food. Millet prefers hot, extended summers and does well growing in the southern states below the Mason-Dixon line. http://www.heirloom-organics.com/guide/va/guidetogrowingmillet.html
Land preparation
It is recommended that land preparation be done early. Fine soils in the seedbed ensure that the small grains germinate, therefore large clods should be broken or the land harrowed after the first ploughing. https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/plants/field-crops-and-pastures/broadacre-field-crops/millet-and-panicum-production-in-queensland/millet-and-panicum-growing-guide Timely field preparation facilitates timely sowing which ensures higher yield. Land preparation should ensure that all crop residues, crop volunteers and weeds are completely buried. Summer ploughing is advantageous to kill the weed seeds and hibernating insects and disease organisms by exposing them to the heat of summer. Initial ploughing should be carried out at optimum moisture range to get good tilt and should avoid when moisture is in excess. Number and depth of ploughings depends on weed intensity. For rainy season crop, with onset of rains in May-June, the field is ploughed once or twice to obtain a good tilt. Harrowing of soil should invariably followed after each ploughing to reduce the clod size. After the initial ploughing, the subsequent ploughings and harrowing are carried out when the moisture content of the clods are reduced. The number of ploughings are to be minimized to reduce the cost of cultivation. Tillage operations should be repeated when the weed seeds are just germinated. When the soils are heavily infested with perennial weeds like Cynodon (dhub grass or Cyperus (nut grass), deep ploughing is needed.
Moisture is a critical element in good seedbed preparation and is essential for the successful establishment of the crop. http://agropedia.iitk.ac.in/content/field-preparation-pearl-millet
Field Preparation for Millet
The objectives of field preparation are based on the following principles:
- Elimination and control of undesirable plants like crop volunteers and weeds to reduce competition with the established main crop;
- Provide favourable conditions for sowing, allowing germination, emergence and good plant development;
- Maintenance of fertility and productivity over the long term by preserving the soil organic matter and avoiding erosion;
- Of organic and agricultural residues. Breaking of hard pans or compacted layers to increase water infiltration through the soil whilst avoiding erosion;
- Facilitating mixing of fertilizers, lime, or agro-chemical products into the soil;
- Incorporation
Field preparation depends on the system of pearl millet sowing. Three systems of pearl millet sowing are followed:
- Sowing on a flat surface
- Using ridge-and-furrow system
- On a broad bed-and-furrow system.
If sowing is done on a flat surface, the land should be levelled after final ploughing using bullock-drawn or tractor-drawn levellers.
Tractor drawn Ridger Ridge and Furrows
In ridge and furrow system, ridges are made using either tractor drawn or animal drawn ridge ploughs.
Animal drawn wooden ridge plough
Animal drawn iron ridge plough
In ridge and furrow system, ridges are made using either tractor drawn or animal drawn ridge plough
Animal drawn ridgers
Broad beds and furrows are prepared by an animal- drawn ridger (Fig.), mounted on a tool carrier (e.g., Tropicultor or Agribar), or by tractor-drawn implements with ridgers.
Making broad-bed and furrows with Agribar
Two ridgers may be fastened on a tool bar so that the top of the bed is 1.2 m wide and the distance from the centre of one furrow to the centre of the next furrow is 1.5 m. The depth of furrows should be 15 cm or more.
After forming the broad bed and furrows, the top of the beds is smoothened and levelled using a chain attached to a wooden frame of a plough or wooden-frame leveller mounted on to a tool bar .
The broadbed-and-furrow system has many advantages over flat sowing. They are:
- helps in draining off excess water in the field and soil;
- provides more soil aeration for plant growth;
- greater in-situ moisture conservation;
- easier for weeding and mechanical harvesting.
http://agropedia.iitk.ac.in/content/field-preparation-pearl-millet
Varieties
| Table 1. Millet varieties | |||||||
| Millet type | Botanical name | Main varieties |
Seed colour |
Sowing rate ( kg/ha) |
Approx. days to flower | Days to harvest maturity | Leaf blast |
| GRAIN ONLY | |||||||
| French millets | Panicum milliaceum | Awa | Orange | – | – | – | S |
| White French | Cream-white | 8-10 | 70 | 90-100 | S | ||
| Dwarf setaria /Foxtail |
Setaria italica | Panicum | Red Straw | 6 | 50 | 80 | S |
| Red Panicum | Red-straw | 6 | 55 | 90-100 | S | ||
| Panorama | Red-straw | 6 | 60 | 90-100 | MR | ||
| DUAL PURPOSE | |||||||
| Japanese millets | Echinochloa esculenta | Japanese | Grey/brown | 8-10 | 60 | 100 | R |
| Shirohie | Grey/ white | 8-10 | 70 | 100 | R | ||
| GRAZING ONLY | |||||||
| Pearl millets | Pennisetum glaucum | Open pollinated | Cream | 4 – 5 | – | n/a | R |
| – | – | Hybrid Pearl | Cream | 3-5 | – | n/a | R |
| Siberian millets | Echinochloa frumentaceae | Siberian (White Panicum) | White | 8-10 | 80 | n/a n/a |
R R |
| Giant setaria | Setaria italica | Giant Setaria | Yellow-straw | 6 | 60 | n/a | S |
Characteristics of different varieties
| Millet types | Variety | Maturity
(months) |
Grain color | Yield potential
(bags/acre) |
| Finger Millet | P224 | 4 | Brown | 10 |
| Gulu E | 4 | Brown | 8 | |
| KAT/FM/FM-1 | 3 | Brown | 7.5 | |
| LANET/FM-1 | 4 | Brown | 7 | |
| Pearl Millet | KAT/PM-1 | 2.5-3 | Grey | 12 |
| KAT/PRO-1 | 2.5-3 | Grey | 10 | |
| Proso Millet | KAT/PRO-1 | 2.5 | Cream | 8 |
| Fox tail Millet | KAT/FOX-1 | 3-4 | Yellow cream | 8 |
http://www.ukulimasmart.co.ke/index.php/en/cereals-farming/millet/268-millet-farming
Varieties in Kenya
A lot of work has been done to identify improved varieties of millet to be grown under different ecological zones of Kenya.
Some recommended varieties of finger millets and their characteristics (Kenya)
| Variety | Optimal production altitude (masl) |
Maturity (Months) |
Grain colour | Potential grain yield (90 kg bags/acre) |
Special attributes |
| “P 224” | 1150-1750 | 3-4 | Brown | 10 | Tolerant to lodging and blast |
| “Gulu E” | 250-1500 | 4 | Brown | 8 | – |
| “KAT/FMI” | 250-1150 | 3 | Brown | 7 | Drought tolerant. Tolerant to blast. High in calcium |
| “Lanet/FM1” | 1750-2300 | 5-7 | Brown | 7 | Tolerant to cold and drought |
Examples of finger millet varieties in Uganda
All below listed varieties share the same maturity period of 100 days, potential grain yield of 2-3 t/ha, brown grain, resistant to blast, susceptible to lodging and good for food and brewing
- “PESE 1”
- “PESE 2”
- “SEREMI 1”
- “SEREMI 2”
- “SEREMI 3”
Some recommended varieties of pearl millets and their characteristics (Kenya)
| Pearl Millet |
| Variety | Optimal production altitude (masl) |
Maturity (Months) |
Grain colour | Potential grain yield (90 kg bags/acre) |
Special attributes |
| “KAT/PM1” | 250-1150 | 2-3 | Grey | 8 | Tolerant to bird damage, leaf blight and rust |
| “KAT/PM2” | 250-1150 | 2 | Grey | 7 | Tolerant to leaf blight and rust. Grain used at dough stage |
| “KAT/PM3” | 50-1500 | 2-3 | Grey | 10 | Tolerant to leaf blight and rust |
Examples of pearl millet varieties in Tanzania
- “Okoa” (Altitude recommended: 0-1300 m; grain yield: 2.0-2.5 t/ha; grain colour: grey; days to flowering: 87-92; resistant to Striga spp.; tolerant to ergot)
- “Shibe” (Altitude recommended: 0-1200 m; grain yield: 1.8-2.0 t/ha; grain colour: grey; days to flowering: 90-95; resistant to Striga spp.)
| Proso Millet |
| Crop | Variety | Optimal production altitude (masl) |
Maturity (Months) |
Grain colour | Potential grain yield (90 kg bags/acre) |
Special attributes |
| Prosomillet | “KAT/PRO-1” | 0-2000 | 2.5 | Cream | 7 | Has ability to stop growing during severe water stress and to resume growth quickly when the stress is broken |
| Fox tail millet | “KAT/FOX-1” | 250-1500 | 3-4 | Cream | 8 | – |
Proso and fox tail millets can be grown in all areas whereas “Gulu E” does best on coast and moist mid altitude. KAT/FM1 is recommended for semi-arid lowlands and Lanet/FM1 for cold semi-arid highlands.
Climate conditions, soil and water management
Millet is mostly grown in temperate and subtropical regions. It is adapted to conditions that are too hot and too dry, and to soils too shallow and poor for successful cultivation of other cereals. It is tolerant to a very wide temperature range but susceptible to frost. Cultivation occurs up to 3000 m altitude in the Himalayas. In Kenya millet is grown from 0 – 2400 m above sea level. Proso millet has one of the lowest water requirements of all cereals. An average annual rainfall of 200 – 450 mm is sufficient, of which 35 – 40% should fall during the growing period. Most soils are suitable for its cultivation, except coarse sand. http://www.infonet-biovision.org/PlantHealth/Crops/Millet
Preparation and Planting
Both red and white proso varieties are available, and growers should choose varieties with appropriate maturities and lodging resistance. Millet should be planted after soil temperatures have warmed to about 65°F, relatively late in the season. Millet does well in warm, fertile soils; it often works well to plough and work in a manured sod in early spring. The seedbed should be very well-drained, and firm. Nitrogen inputs should be monitored to avoid lodging in millet; the best way to determine how much nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium to apply is to have your soil tested prior to planting. The pH level should be at least 5.6 for good millet growth; apply lime in early spring if necessary. The typical seeding rate is 20-35 lbs per acre, and a grain drill with the seeding depth set to plant 1-3” works best; plant deeper if dry soil conditions are expected. Millet have been known to germinate even if planted at a depth of 4-5”, but shallower depths will help germination. Rolling or cult packing the soil before and after planting improves seedling emergence by increasing seed-to-soil contact. The seed can also be broadcasted (at a slightly higher seeding rate), followed by a light harrowing or packing. Millet emerges quickly in warm soil and is tolerant of moisture extremes but is extremely sensitive to frost. However, its short growing season allows for millet to be planted as late as June or possibly even July. Because millet can be planted so late in the season, it has been known to be planted as an emergency grain if another crop has failed. http://northerngraingrowers.org/wp-content/uploads/MILLET.pdf
Plant population
Row spacing of 18 cm are recommended at the suggested planting rates listed below:
- White French 8-10 kg/ha
- Panorama 6 kg/ha
- Shirohie 8-10 kg/ha.
Establishment is normally 60%-70% in loamy soil, often lower in heavy soils or in poor seedbed conditions (crusting).
Under good soil moisture conditions planting 30mm deep is preferable. Sowing deeper than this will reduce emergence. Satisfactory seedbeds for shallow plantings are difficult to prepare on heavy clay soils. Increased seeding rates on these soils to compensate for a lower establishment may be necessary. Rolling may improve establishment, as can the use of press wheels. Press wheels should be adjusted to 4-8 kg/10 cm widths. Avoid crusting soils.
Nutrition
Obtaining a soil analysis, a short time before planting should indicate any major nutrient deficiency.
Nitrogen (N) : aim for 25-35 kg N/ha for grain crops. Excess nitrogen may produce tall crops that are prone to lodging. Higher rates may be justified under double-crop conditions.
On soils low in phosphorus (P) apply 5-10 kg P/ha
| Soil | Options |
| Alluvial soils or black earths | Urea 60 kg/ha pre plant |
| Forest soils | Muriate of potash 60 kg/ha preplant plus 125 kg/ha DAP at planting |
| Red scrub, Brigalow and grey clay | CK700 100kg/ha at planting |
Pest management
Weed control
Millets are fast growers and when sown broad acre will often out-compete many weeds.
Panorama millet and Panicum should not be sprayed with phenoxy-type herbicides (2,4-D, MCPA), while White French millet or Japanese millet may tolerate low rates. Growers should exercise caution and are advised to seek further information before use. Crops should be sprayed when roots have developed and the plant has fully tiller. Spraying during stem elongation (nodes detectable) can cause severe damage. i.e. reduced growth, head deformities (tipping out), increased lodging.
Always refer to the herbicide label and MSDS sheet for current registered use patterns. These details may be subject to change.
Disease management
Japanese and Shirohie millets have few major disease problems, while Panorama millet shows good tolerance to head blast.
A number of smuts can affect seed heads and developing grains in millets. These include:
| White French | Head smut (Sphacelotheca destructens) |
| Foxtail millets (Panorama, Panicum, and Red Panicum) | Kernel smut (Ustilago crameri) |
| Japanese, Shirohie and Siberian millets | Covered smut (Ustilago tricophora) |
All these smut diseases are seed borne. Do not retain planting seed from visibly affected crops. As a precaution, consider treating planting seed with seed dressing.
Leaf and head blast (Pyricularia grisea)
This affects White French millet and many of the foxtail millets (especially Panicum and Red Panicum). Panorama is classed as moderately resistant. Leaf symptoms include oval shaped spots with dark margins, sometimes joining together to produce large dead areas. Blasting causes premature senescence, with no grain production in all or parts of the head. The fungus survives on diseased crop residues as well as on some grasses. Wet weather favours infection. Later plantings are generally regarded as less susceptible to damage.
Charcoal rot
It is a soil-borne fungus disease that can cause premature dieback, and is responsible for ‘white-heads’ in the crop. Appears to be especially prevalent in the foxtail/sectarian millets.
Insect management
While serious insect pests are not generally considered a routine problem, millets should be monitored for halitosis, cutworms, armyworms, locusts, and shoot fly, which can occasionally reach damaging levels, and are controlled by the same chemicals used for other summer grain crops.
Shoot fly (Atherigona falcata)
They lay eggs on the stem of the millet plant as it elongates (prior to head emergence). Larvae hatch and burrow into the stem, feeding on it from inside. They gradually move upwards and destroy the developing seed head. The damage only becomes obvious when the seed head fails to emerge. All millets are susceptible to shoot fly injury, although damage appears more prevalent in cultivars Shirohie and Japanese sown after December. These can occasionally reach damaging levels that warrant control. No insecticide is registered for this pest of millets in Queensland.
Armyworm (Pseudaletia convecta)
Army worms are leaf feeders. Plants can tolerate the feeding damage caused by low populations but high populations may defoliate the crop.
High populations of heliothis (Helicoverpa armigera) may warrant control. https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/plants/field-crops-and-pastures/broadacre-field-crops/millet-and-panicum-production-in-queensland/millet-and-panicum-growing-guide
Harvesting and Storing Seed
During late summer when day-length begins to decrease, millet plants begin to set seed. Vegetative growth slows and purple or gray seed-heads form. Under northern conditions the crop is ready to harvest by October, or about 70-90 days after sowing, when the top half of these seed-heads, or panicles, have turned brown. At this point, the lower seeds might still be in the soft dough stage but should no longer be green in color. Millet is sometimes swathed when the seed heads have turned approximately 2/3 brown and allowed to dry further in the field before combining; this practice also allows the straw to dry and makes harvesting easier. It is also possible to direct cut the millet crop with a typical grain header on the combine. Proso millet for grain should yield about 50 bushels per acre or more, depending on conditions. There is an increasing demand for millet as a cereal grain for bread and flour in the northeast. However, after the grain is harvested and threshed, it must be de-hulled for human consumption. The hulls of millet seeds are variable in colour, and can even be striped. Millet should be cleaned of weed seeds and broken kernels, then stored at no higher than 13% moisture. For human consumption, millet can be de-hulled using compressed air or impact de-hullers, and used as is or ground into flour. Millet has a bland flavour, which some describe as slightly nutty. Gene Logsdon, author of Small-Scale Grain Raising, asserts that this nutty flavour can be further brought out if the millet seeds are lightly toasted before using them. http://northerngraingrowers.org/wp-content/uploads/MILLET.pdf
