Cumbu is drought tolerant and Short-term food grain crop. Cumbu has been farming in the land that has low in water and nutrients. However, the productivity is 600 kg per acre in Tamil Nadu.

It is rich in protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A and contains large amounts of nutrients. Also starch, contains large amounts of carbohydrate nutrients. Cumbu grain is to be able to produce many kinds of value added products.

Cultivation Techniques:

• Season : July-september it can be grown.
• Varieties : CO (Cu) 7, CO (Cu) 9, Hybrid cumbu CO 9.
• Age: 80 - 95 days.
• Spacing : Row to row spacing 45 cm and plant spacing 15 cm if found necessary spacing.
• Seed rate : Two kg of seed per acre is required. Pre sowing treatment with 3 pockets of  Azospirillum and phosphobacteria mixed and then sowing can be done.
• Post sowing treatment : 20th day after sowing weeding is done with the hand. Application of nitrogen top dressing to the 30th day after sowing.

Integrated nutrient management (per acre)

Plant Protection :

Shoot fly and earhead bug :

Shoot flies can be controlled by 5 per cent neem seed extract spray or 1% neem azal spray .To control the attack of earhead bug 25 kg carbaryl 10 percent powder or malathion 5% powder can be dusted at 50% flowering stage.

Downy mildew and rust disease :

Control the downy mildew with the spraying of either Metalaxsis @ 200g or Mancozeb @ 400g To control Rust disease wettable sulphur 1 kg or Mancozeb 400 g can be sparayed to control the disease. If necessary, repeat the spray at 10 days interval. These techniques can be practiced by farmers to get higher yield.

Source :

Professor and Head,
Dryland Agriculture Research Station,
TNAU,
Coimbatore - 3.