RA 00110.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT

Environmental Parameters
Geographic Distribution
Pearl millet is a short-day plant. It is adapted to
warm, semi-arid to desert climates. It is found
between 69-85°E longitudes and 8-31°N latitudes. It
is grown at altitudes up to 600 m above sea level.
Climate
Pearl millet is grown chiefly during the southwest
monsoon or rainy season, but is also cultivated in the
summer under irrigation, particularly in Gujarat
and Tamil Nadu for food, and for fodder in Haryana
and Punjab. The monsoon begins 5 Jun-15 Jul in the
various pearl millet regions, and withdraws by 1
Sep-15 Oct (1895-1940 data). Climate data is extrapolated
from I M D (1978).
Rainfall and rainy days. The annual rainfall in pearl
millet growing areas ranges from 150-750 mm (1901 -
1950 data), most of which falls between Jun-Sep in
5-50 d (rainy day > 2.5 mm). The rainfall and rainy
days increase from west to east and from south to
north in Jun-Sep.
Temperature. Over a year the temperature varies
between a minimum of-2.5 and a maximum of 50° C
in the pearl millet growing areas. The mean daily
temperature varies between 25-27.5°C in October,
to 25-32.5°C in July. Normally the mean daily minimum
temperature is 17.5-25°C in October, to 22.5-
27.5°C in July, and the maximum from 30-35°C in
October, to 30-40°C in July (1931-60 data).
The mean daily soil temperature recorded at 07:00
at 30 cm is 25-30°C in October to 27.5-30°C in July,
and at 5 cm is 20-25°C in October to 25-30°C in July.
Relative humidity. The mean daily relative humidity
at 08:30 is 50-80% in October to 70-90% in July
and at 17:30 is 30-70% in October to 50-80% in July
(1930-1961 data).
Sunshine hours. Over a 20-year period (1946-
1965), mean annual sunshine hours varied from 6-8
h d -1 but may reach as low as 3 h d - 1 in July (3-8 h
d -1 ), and as high as 10 h d -1 during October (6-10 h
d -1 ).
Evaporation.
On an annual basis the potential
evapotranspiration ranges from 1400-2000 mm and
varies from 5-10 mm d -1 in July to 4-8 mm d -1 in
October.
Soils. Nine major soil zones are identified in India
(UNESCO 1977). Pearl millet is grown on different
soils. It is mostly grown on light-textured soils
(Entisols) under a wide range of rainfall, from
extreme dry to moderate, in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
It is also grown in soils of light to medium texture
(Aridosols and Alfisols) in Punjab, Haryana, Andhra
Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
On the heavy clay soils it is grown on deep soils
(e.g., Vertisols) only in the lower rainfall areas like
Karnataka and Maharashtra; under higher rainfall,
its growth on heavy clay soils is confined to shallow
well-drained soils, e.g., Vertic Inceptisols in Madhya
Pradesh and Karnataka. Sivakumar et al. (1984)
described at length the rainfall pattern and moistureand
nutrient-holding capacity of these soils.
Traditional Farming Practices
Local farming practices vary widely depending on
soil type, rainfall pattern, and availability of power
(camels, cattle, or tractor) and implements (plow,
blade harrow, and seed drill, made of either wood or
iron).
Varieties. Local varieties are grown in Rajasthan
(RSK and RSJ), Maharashtra (Avsari and Deothan),
Gujarat (Bajra 207, Bajra 28-15, L 17 Baroda,
and Babapuri), Uttar Pradesh (Mainpur), Haryana
and Punjab (Jakharana, T 55, S 530, and A 1/3),
Andhra Pradesh (AKP 1 and A K P 2), and Tamil
Nadu (CO 1 to CO 5 and K 1). The traditional
varieties are shy tillering, tall, late, and poor yielding,
but tolerant to diseases.
Preparatory cultivation. Land is plowed once in
summer followed by 1-2 harrowings before planting
in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya
Pradesh, but land is plowed twice in Rajasthan and
eastern Uttar Pradesh before the onset of the
monsoon.
Manures and chemical fertilizers. Farmers may
apply farmyard manure whenever available, every
year or alternate years, but it is not a common practice.
As a general rule, chemical fertilizers are rarely
applied, but some farmers in Gujarat, Haryana,
Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Karnataka
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