Cumbu (Pennisetum glaucum)

I. SEASON AND VARIETIES

II. PARTICULARS OF CUMBU HYBRIDS AND VARIETIES

CUMBU (Pennisetum glaucum (L) R. Br. )

CROP MANAGEMENT
 
NURSERY

1. PREPARATION OF LAND

• For raising seedlings to plant one ha select 7.5 cents near a water source. Water should not stagnate.
• Plough the land and bring it to the fine tilth.

2. APPLICATION OF FYM

      Apply 750 kg of FYM or compost and incorporate by ploughing. Cover the seeds with 500 kg of FYM.

3. FORMING RAISED BED

• In each cent mark 6 plots of the size 3 m x 1.5 m with 30 cm channel in between the plots and all around.
  
• Form the channel to a depth of 15 cm.
  
• Spread the earth excavated from the channel on the beds and level.
  NOTE: The Unit of 6 plots in one cent will form one unit for irrigation.

4.  REMOVAL OF ERGOT AFFECTED SEEDS AND SCLEROTIA TO PREVENT PRIMARY INFECTION

• Dissolve one kg of common salt in 10 litres of water.  
  
• Drop the seeds into the salt solution
  
• Remove the ergot and sclerotia affected seeds which will float.
  
• Wash seeds in fresh water 2 or 3 times to remove the salt on the seeds.
  
• Dry the seeds in shade.
  
• Treat the seeds with three packets (600g) of the Azospirillum inoculant and 3 packets (600g) of phosphobacteria or 6 packets (1200g) of azophos.
   
  

5. TREATMENT OF THE NURSERY BED WITH INSECTICIDES
 
Apply phorate 10 G 180 g or Carbofuran 3 G 600 g mixed with 2 kg of moist sand, spread on the beds and work into the top 2 cm of soil to protect the seedlings from shootfly infestation.

6.  SOWING AND COVERING THE SEEDS

NOTE: Do not sow the seeds deep as germination will be affected.

7. IRRIGATION TO THE SEED BED

PROTECTION OF SEEDLINGS IN THE NURSERY FROM PEST ATTACK

If seed bed is not treated before sowing, protect the nursery by applying any one of the insecticides given below on the 7th and 14th day of sowing by mixing in 6 litres of water.; Methyl demeton 25 EC 12 ml, Dimethoat 30 EC 12 ml.

Note:

1. The seedlings should not be kept in nursery for more than 18 days. Otherwise the establishment and yield will be affected adversely.
   
2. Ensure that cracks should not develop in the nursery. This can be avoided by properly adjusting the quantity of irrigation water.

PREPARATION OF MAIN FIELD

1. FIELD PREPARATION

2. APPLICATION OF FYM OR COMPOST

Spread 12.5 t/ha of FYM or compost or composted coir pith uniformly on unploughed soil. Incorporate the manure by working the country plough and apply Azospirillum to the soil @ 10 packets per ha (2000 g) and 10 packets (2000g) of phosphobacteria (or) 20 packets (4000g) of azophos with 25kg of soil and 25 kg of FYM.

3. FORMING RIDGES AND FURROWS/BEDS

• Form ridges and furrows (using 3 ridges) 6 m long and 45 cm apart. If pulses is intercropped, form ridges and furrows 6 m long and 30 cm apart.
  
• If ridge planting is not followed, form beds of the size 10 m2 or 30 m2 depending upon water availability.
  
• Form irrigation channels.
  
• To conserve soil moisture under rainfed condition, sow the seeds in flat and form furrows between crop rows during intercultivation on third week after sowing.

4. APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS

Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendations as far as possible. If soil test recommendation is not available follow the blanket recommendation of 70:35:35 kg N, P2O5, K2O/ ha for all varieties. For hybrids, apply 80 kg N, 40 kg P2O5 and 40 kg K2O per ha. Apply the recommended N in three splits as 25:50:25 per cent at 0,15 and 30 DAS and full dose of phosphorus and potassium basally.  Combined application of azospirillum and phosphobacteria or azophos along with 75 per cent of the recommended level of N and P is recommended for rainfed conditions.

Method of application: For transplanted crop, open a furrow more than 5 cm deep on the side of the ridge (1/3 distance from the bottom), place the fertilizer and cover.  For the direct sown crop, mark the lines more than 5 cm deep 45 cm apart in the beds. Place the fertilizer below 5 cm depth and cover upto 2 cm from the top before sowing. In the case of intercropping with pulses, mark lines more than 5 cm deep 30 cm apart in the beds. Apply fertilizer only in the rows in which cumbu is to be sown and cover upto 2 cm. When azospirillum inoculant is used for seeds, seedlings use only 50 kg N/ha for variety, 60 kg N/ha for hybrid, as soil application in other words, reduce 25% N of soil test recommendations.

5. APPLICATION OF MICRONUTRIENT MIXTURE

Apply 12.5 kg/ha of micronutrient mixture formulated by the Department of Agriculture. Mix the mixture with enough sand to make 50 kg and apply on the surface just before planting/after sowing and cover the seeds. Broadcast the mixture on the surface to seed line. If micronutrient mixture is not available apply 25 kg of zinc sulphate per ha. Mix the chemical with enough sand to make 50 kg and apply as above.

 MANAGEMENT OF MAIN FIELD

1. TRANSPLANTING SEEDLINGS OR SOWING PRE-TREATED SEEDS Transplanted Crop
 

Direct sown crop

Soaking of cumbu seeds either in 2% Potassium chloride (KCl) or 3% Sodium Chloride (NaCl) for 16 hours followed by 5 hours shade drying improves germination and stand.

• Adopt the spacing of 45 x 15 cm for all varieties. If pulse is intercropped, adopt a spacing of 30 x 15 cm for cumbu and 30 x 10 cm for pulses. One pair row of cumbu is alternated with a single row of pulse crop.
• In the furrows in which fertilizers have been applied, place 5 kg of seed, allowing them to fall 4 - 5 cm apart (Use higher seed rate of 5 kg to offset mortality).  The optimum population should be 1, 45,000 per ha. Use increased seed rate upto 12.5 kg per hectare in shoot fly endemic area and remove the shootfly damaged seedlings at the time of thinning.
• Where pulse seeds are to be sown, drop pulse seeds to fall 5 cm apart and cover.

2.  WEED MANAGEMENT

Transplanted crop

Spray PE Atrazine 0.25 kg/ha on 3 DAT followed by one hand weeding on 30 - 35 DAT. If herbicide is not used hand weeding twice on 15 DAT and 30 - 35 DAT.

Direct Sown crop

• Apply the PE Atrazine 0.25 kg/ha on 3 DAS as spray on the soil surface using Back-pack/Knapsack/Rocker sprayer fitted with flat type nozzle using 500 litres of water/ha.
  
• Apply herbicide when there is sufficient moisture in the soil.
  
• Hand weed on 30 - 35 days after sowing if pre-emergence herbicide is applied.
  
• If pre-emergence herbicide is not applied hand weed twice on 15 and 30 days after sowing.

3.  THINNING AND GAP FILLING

In direct sown crop after 1st weeding at the time of irrigation, gap fill and thin the crop to a spacing of 15 cm between plants; cowpea crop to 20 cm between plants and other pulses crops to 10 cm between plants.

4. TOP DRESSING OF FERTILIZERS

 WATER MANAGEMENT

NOTE: This is only a guideline and the irrigation schedule is to be adjusted depending upon the prevailing weather conditions.

HARVESTING THE CROP

1.  SYMPTOMS OF MATURITY

• Leaves will turn yellow and present a dried appearance.
  
• Grains will be hardened.

2.  HARVESTING

• Cut the earheads separately.
  
• Cut the straw after a week, allowing it to dry and stack it in the field till it can be transported.

3.  THRESHING, CLEANING, DRYING AND STORING

Crop Protection

• Pests of Cumbu
• Diseases of Cumbu

Post Harvest Technology

Bajra also known as cumbu, pearl millet is the predominant crop in India. It has the same quantity of protein as wheat. The protein contains a high proportion of prolamine followed by the globulin and albumins. Pearling of bajra to about 8% polish leaves most of the germs intact and the nutritive value is not seriously affected. Pearling improves appearance and taste of the products. The grain is sometimes eaten after it is parched, the product being similar to popcorn. The grain is also suitable for the preparation of malt. It is consumed after dehusking and cooked in the same way as rice. More commonly it is ground into flour and made into chappathi. It is also made into thin porridge.
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