Foxtail millet/Italian millet

  • Season: Short duration, hardy and drought tolerant crops and generally cultivated in marginal and sloppy lands during Kharif season.
  •  Sowing time: Sow the seeds in line at 20 cm apart in the last week of June or first week of July
  • Seed rate: 3.5 - 4.0 kg/acre
  • Seed treatment: Seed treatment with bio pesticides (Trichodermaharzianum @ 5g/ kg or thiram 75% dust @ 3 g/ kg of seed.
  • Method of sowing: Line sowing across the slope at 20cm apart
  • Nutrient management: Basal (Urea 6.5kg+SSP 37.5kg+MOP 10kg), Top dressing at 21 DAS (Urea 19.5kg/acre)
  • Weed management: First hoeing and weeding at 21 DAS. As an alternate Pre-emergence application of Isoproturon @ 0.5-0.75 kg/ha provides broad spectrum weed control in finger millet. Application of 2,4-D @ 0.5-0.75kg/ha at 3-4 weeks’ controls broad leaved weeds effectively
  • Water management: Mostly grown under rainfed condition
  • Harvesting:  Harvest the crop at physiological maturity. Grain moisture content 12-14% is ideal for long storage.