Pearl Millet (Sajja or Bajra)

• Pearlmillet (bajra) is largely confined to rainfed alfisols in Scarce Rainfall Zone.

Varieties / Hybrids

• The following varieties / hybrids are suitable for all bajra growings areas of A.P.

Seeds and seeding

• July to August first fortnight is the optimum time for sowing.
• Drill the seed along the contour with a row spacing to 45cm using a seed rate of 4.0 kg ha^-1.
• Thinning should be done within 15 days after seeding to maintain about 12cm between plants within the row.
• Before seeding remove ergot sclerotial bodies by floating the seed in salt solution. After thorough drying the seed material, treat with Thiram @ 3g/kg of seed.

Manuring

• Apply FYM @ 10t ha^-1 once in two to three years.
• The crop responds to 60 N, 30 P₂O₅ and 20K₂O kg ha^-1. Half of the N along with entire dose of phosphorus and potash should be applied as basal dose just before seeding and the remaining N 30 days after seeding depending on adequate soil moisture.

Intercultivation

• Two to three intercultures, using blade harrows, should be completed within 35 days after seeding.
• Alternately, atrazine @ 0.8kg a.i ha^-1 can effectively control the weeds.
• 2-4 D @ 1.0 kg a.i ha^-1 can be used as post emergence application (15-20 DAS).

Disease Management

• Downy mildew : Seed treatment with metalaxyl @ 2g kg^-1 seed. Spray metalaxyl at 1g l^-1 at 25-30 DAS.
• Ergot: Spray mancozeb at 2.5g l^-1 twice at 7-10 days interval starting from flowering stage or captan 2 g l^-1 or thiophenyte methyl 1g l^-1. Repeat the spraying twice at 6-8 days interval depending upon the severity of the disease.

Pest Management

• Grass hoppers : Trim the field bunds in summer and dust the trimmed areas with endosulfan 4% dust or methyl Parathion 2% @20kg ha^-1.

White ants and rcot grub

• Soil application of phorate 10G @ 20kg ha^-1 at the time of last ploughing especially in light soils.

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