Prosomillet cultivation

Climate

It requires warm climate. It is hardy and highly draught resistant. Its water requirement is low and can be grown in scanty rainfall areas. It can withstand water stagnation also to some extent.

Soil

It can be grown on wide range of soils from rich to poor soils. Well drained loam or sandy soil free from Konkan and rich in organic matter is ideal for the cultivation of prosomillet.

Land preparation

Soon after harvest of crop, the land should be ploughed and left as such. After onset of monsoon, 2-3 harrowings should be given. Before last harrowing, required quantity of farm yard manure should be spread and mixed in the soil.

Seed rate and spacing

Seed rate depends upon method of sowing. The crop is sown either by broadcasting seeds over the soil or by drilling the seeds in the soil with the help of seed drill. Row to row 25 cm and plant to plant 10 cm spacing should be maintained.

Seed treatment

Before sowing, the seeds should be treated with Thiram or ceresan @ 2.5 g/kg of seed for controlling fungal diseases.

Method of sowing

Broadcasting of seeds over the soil or drilling the seeds in the soil with the help of seed drill is a common practice. Line sowing is better than broadcasting as it ensures conform plant stand and facilitate intercultural operations. Sowing depth should not be more than 3-4 cm.

Manures and fertilizers

Five to ten tonnes of farm yard manure per hectare should be applied before last harrowing if available. Prosomillet requires less amount of nutrient compared to other cereals. Application of 40:20:20 kg NPK/ha is sufficient to get the expected yield. Half quantity of nitrogen and full dose of phosphorus and potassium should be applied at the time of sowing. The remaining half dose of N should be given after 1 month of sowing.

Water management

Generally Kharif crop does not require any irrigation. But if there is adry spell for longer time at tillering stage, one irrigation must be given to boost the yield. Summer crop requires 2-4 irrigations depending upon soil type, climatic conditions and availability of irrigation water. First irrigation at 25 - 30 DAS and second irrigation at 30 - 45 DAS should be given. Heavy irrigation is not generally advisible because of shallow root system.

Weed management

The field should be kept weed free upto 35 days after sowing. One or two intercultivations  are given within this period followed by a hand weeding.

Harvesting and threshing

Prosomillet is a short duration crop and is ready for harvesting after 65 - 75 days of sowing. Delay in harvesting leads to considerable loss due to shattering. The harvesting is done when two third of seeds are ripened. The crop is uprooted or cut close to the ground, dried and threshed with hand or under the feet of bullocks.

Yield

Under good agronomical practices 20 - 25 q grain and 50-60 q straw per hectare can be obtained.

Rabi maize cultivation

 Dear farmers

Rabi maize favourably responds to better crop management. Rabi yield is higher than Kharif. The average temperature during the growing season should not go below 12°C and there should be no frost.

Sowing time - October to mid November

Sowing method - Sowing on ridges

Sowing direction - Southern side of the East - West ridge

Seed rate/ha - 20 - 22 kg

Spacing - 60×18 cm

Sowing depth - 4-5 cm

Plant population/ha - 90000

Seed treatment

Soaking of seed over night in warm water (45°C at the time of soaking)

Intercultural operation

1 or 2 intercultural operations i.e. hoeing and weeding should be performed.

Fertilizer management

120:60:40 kg NPK dose per hectare is recommended. 30 kg N and full P and K are given at the time of sowing. 60 kg N at knee-height stage and remaining 30 kg N is given at flag leaf stage.

Irrigation

Six irrigations are given to the Rabi maize crop.

• Two irrigations upto flowering
• One at the time of flowering
• Two after flowering
• One at early grain filling stage

Cropping systems

Maize - Potato

Maize - Wheat

Maize - Potato - Wheat

Maize - Wheat - Sugarcane

Maize - Wheat - Jowar - Sugarcane

Maize - Potato - Sugarcane - Wheat

Harvesting and threshing

Maize is harvested when cob sheath turns brownish and grains become hard containing less than 20 per cent moisture. In hybrids and composites, sheath becomes brown, loose and silk dried completely. In most of the varieties, plants remain green even at full maturity. Maize is harvested either by plucking the cobs from the standing plant or by cutting the stalk and plucking the cobs from the plant. The cobs are dried in sun for 7-8 days. The threshing is done by bitting the cobs with sticks or with the help of corn shelter.

Yield

Under rain-fed situation maize yield 20-25 q/ha grains for hybrids and 15 - 20 q for composites. However, under irrigation, hybrids and composites yielded 50 - 60 and 45 - 50 q/ha respectively.

To ensure high yield-

• Maintain optimum plant population
• Better water management
• Favourable temperature
• Better response to nutrients
• Less incidence of insect - pests and diseases
• Less weed competition should be maintained

Read about Soybean cultivation

                      Sorghum cultivation

                      Brinjal cultivation