Source: http://vasat.icrisat.org/crops/pearl_millet/pm_production/html/m8_8/index.html

Crop Rotation Practices in Pearl Millet

A cropping system refers to growing a combination of crops in space and time.

An ideal cropping system should :

• use natural resources efficiently

• provide stable and high returns

• do not damage the environment.  

Commonly practiced cropping systems are :

• Crop rotation practices

• Intercropping systems

• Mixed cropping systems

• Ratoon cropping

Growing the same crop year after year in the same field is called monocropping. In contrast to monocropping, in crop rotation practice crops are grown in a planned sequence from season to season within a year or from year to year.

This planned crop rotation sequence could be:

Two crops in two different seasons within a year i.e. double cropping, e.g. pearl millet followed by chickpea.

for a two- year period i.e. two year crop rotation, e.g.                            

Year 1: pearl millet;                           

Year 2: groundnut;                           

Year 3: will be pearl millet again.

This planned crop rotation sequence could be:

three-year period i.e. three year crop rotation, e.g.                           

Year 1: pearl millet;                           

Year 2: groundnut;                           

Year 3: sorghum/finger millet;                           

Year 4: will be pearl millet again.

Some of the general purposes of crop rotation are:

• improve or maintain soil fertility,

• check erosion,

• reduce the build-up of pests,

• spread the workload on family labor, use of bullocks and farm equipment, hired labor etc.

• mitigate risk of weather changes,

• less reliance on agricultural chemicals,

• increase net profits.

When selecting a rotation, the long term viability of that rotation to reduce weed, insect and disease pressure, as well as its economic viability must be considered. A well developed plan which can be altered when necessary should always be followed. Otherwise, the desired crop sequence may be interrupted and the maximum benefits of the rotational effect will not be obtained.The following are important to consider when designing a crop rotation, regardless of location. How will the previous crop affect subsequent crop production?

Will the previous crop increase or decrease concerns in the following areas?

• Disease, insect, weed control, and residue management

• Soil moisture and fertility utilization

• Seed bed preparation

• Planting and harvesting schedule

• Gross economic returns

Pearl millet crop is mostly grown as rainfed monsoon crop during kharif (June-July to September-November) and also to a limited extent as an irrigated hot weather (February-June) crop in central and south India. Pearl millet is often grown in rotation with sorghum, groundnut, cotton, foxtail millet, finger millet (ragi), castor, and sometimes, in the south India, with rice.

If the pearl millet crop is sown early, in May, it can be followed in the same year by horse gram.

In areas where cotton and sorghum are grown, the rotations followed may be pearl millet- cotton-sorghum or pearl millet-sorghum-cotton ( a 3 year rotation), In sandy soils, pearl millet may be grown continuously year after year, or pearl millet follows finger millet (ragi).

In some regions of Tamil Nadu, as in south Arcot, the rotation may be more complex: pearl millet-ragi-groundnut-rice-sugarcane in a 3 –year rotation, with irrigation.

On red soils of Karnataka, pearl millet and ragi rotation is practiced though pearl millet might not be grown every year. On course gravelly soils, castor may follow pearl millet.

Cluster bean (guar) - Pearl millet crop sequence with crop residue incorporation has significantly increased the productivity in arid zone of Western Rajasthan where Fallow - Pearl millet/Pearl millet after Pearl millet crop sequence is practiced.

In Punjab, the dryland rotation may be small grain-millet-fallow. In irrigated lands, pearl millet is rotated with chickpea, fodder sorghum, and wheat. In dry and light soils of Rajasthan, southern Punjab and Haryana, and northern Gujarat, pearl millet is most often rotated with a pulse-like moth or mungbean, or is followed by fallow, sesame, potato, mustard, moth bean, and guar. Sesame crop may be low-yielding and may be replaced by castor or groundnut.

Cultivar rotation need to be adopted to avoid downy mildew disease problem.

Pearl millet hybrids and open pollinated varieties should be used in alternate years/seasons. It is advised not grow same hybrid or open pollinated variety continuously on the same piece of land.