Finger millet is a type of cereal crop that is often grown in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It is especially popular in India, where it’s known as ragi. Finger millet can be eaten as-is or prepared in various ways, it’s high in protein and fiber, so it makes for a great addition to many different dishes.
Finger millet fertilizer requirements vary depending on the variety of finger millet you’re growing and your soil type. Typically, though, finger millet needs a lot of nitrogen at planting time and less nitrogen later on. Because finger millet grows quickly and has shallow roots, it doesn’t need much phosphorus or potassium, just enough to get by without starving out other plants in the field.
The pH level should be between 6 and 7 (slightly acidic), but if yours is lower than 6 then add lime; if it’s higher than 7 then add sulfur. The best way to test pH levels is with an electronic meter or by using soil tests kits available at most garden supply stores; if you don’t have either then just take a sample of soil into your local garden center for them to test while you’re there buying other supplies like fertilizer or seeds.
The agronomic traits of finger millet and its yield, as well as its thousand grain weight, are important indicators for determining the fertilizer requirements for this crop. Despite the variability in yield and thousand grain weight, there was no consistent pattern in nutrients required for growing finger millet. These factors, however, did reflect the amount of N, P and K in the crop.
Micronutrients
The micronutrients present in finger millet are highly dependent on the type of soil and climate, as well as the growing season. Studies have found that finger millet is higher in some nutrients than in others. This study investigated the effect of micronutrients on the growth of finger millet in Nepal and Tibet. These findings highlight the importance of nutrient management for finger millet cultivation.
The micronutrient Ca2+ is an important nutrient that provides vascular and muscular contractions and nerve signal transmissions. It helps fight osteoporosis and is important for regulating heart and blood vessel function and preventing obesity. Finger millet contains high amounts of zinc, an essential mineral for human health. In addition, it has anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, and wound-healing properties.
Studies have shown that crop productivity in sub-Saharan Africa is hindered by poor soil fertility. A major constraint is nutrient depletion, which is often exacerbated by different management practices. To improve crop yields in degraded soils, nutrient additions are needed. In this study, experimental data were collected to assess the role of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers on finger millet yield differences. The yield differences between degraded and productive fields was assessed as well as the yield gap between former kraals and degraded fields. Former kraals are recognized as the highest yielding areas in the Teso farming system of eastern Uganda.
A synthesis of available datasets assessing the status of micronutrients in SSA arable soils was conducted. Results indicate that micronutrient addition to finger millet fertilizer can improve crop productivity. Biofortification is an economically viable way to increase the production of nutrient-dense crops. To date, more than three billion people worldwide are suffering from nutrient deficiencies.
Millets are important sources of antioxidants and nutraceuticals. They are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. In addition, millets are highly adaptable to climate change and are easily grown in resource-poor areas. Hence, farmers need to use finger millet fertilizer as a source of micronutrients for their crops. There are many benefits of finger millet fertilizer.
Soil quality is another important factor in the micronutrient content of a crop. Poor soils lead to crop degradation and uneven fertilizer application. Adding micronutrients will help prevent such degradation and increase crop productivity. Agronomic biofortification will also improve crop growth and yields. However, the importance of micronutrients cannot be understated. This is because of the diversity of nutrients in SSA.
The use of finger millet as a crop depends on the micronutrients present in the soil. For example, it contains high amounts of magnesium, manganese, and zinc. However, it also contains high levels of phosphorus and potassium. It has a low NO3-N content and requires less nitrogen fertilizer. The recommended nitrogen rate is 10 pounds per acre. However, this rate only applies when the nitrogen and potassium fertilizer are applied to the soil.
Phosphorus
Finger millet production remains low in Eastern Africa due to the depletion of soil nutrients. Nevertheless, the crop has shown significant improvements with the intensive production of other crops such as maize, sorghum, and barley. The yield of finger millet in Kenya is below 1.0 to 5.0 tonnes per hectare in a low-input system. To counter this problem, farmers should consider incorporating phosphorus in their fertilizer program.
The application of N and P was found to be effective in increasing millet productivity in the Teso farming system. Although biomass production increased, finger millet yields failed to match those on former kraal sites, where manure accumulated for years through night corralling of cattle. In other words, P is essential for increasing finger millet yields. However, in order to meet the SOC requirement of finger millet, farmers must first rehabilitate degraded fields before applying fertilizer.
A review of recent literature has concluded that the amount of Phosphorus in Finger Millet fertilizer depends on the level of N and P. Insufficient P fertilizer levels resulted in poor crop productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. The resulting soil nutrient balance creates areas of accumulation and depletion. Therefore, it is important to add additional N and P fertilizer to degraded soil. Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of inorganic fertilizers and organic manures on the growth and yield of finger millet in different experimental settings in Uganda and Zambia. This study also assessed the differences between yield gaps in degraded fields and former kraals, which are widely recognized as producing the highest yields in the Teso farming system in eastern Uganda.
The study found that a high-nitrogen and P2O5 fertilizer level increased the grain yield of finger millet. A high-level of P2O5 fertilizer gave maximum seed yield in monocultures, while 100% P2O5 had no effect in intercropping. The highest partial factor productivity and agronomic efficiency was obtained with a 50/50 P2O5 and N fertilizer regime. Finger millet-common bean intercropping saved 0.91 ha of land.
Iron and calcium content in finger millet varied greatly by landrace. At 365 m, the average grain iron content was 0.33%. At 1040 m, it was 0.11%. At 1856 m, it was 0.44%. Both levels indicate that higher altitudes increase the iron content of finger millet. The differences between landraces may be due to variation in nutrient losses from the soil.
The calcium content of finger millet grain was found to be significantly different in each of the three elevations. The grains at both altitudes showed an increasing trend in calcium content. The highest level was found in landrace KLE-158 (0.99%), the lowest at 1856 m. In addition, the calcium content of KLE-236 ranged between 0.92% and 1.23%, with the lowest in landrace Kabre-1 (1%) at 1856 m.
Nitrogen
While the exact requirements of finger millet are still not clear, we can deduce that the crop requires adequate nutrients. The nutrients required by this crop include large amounts of macronutrients and smaller amounts of micronutrients. Both basal and foliar fertilizers can supply these nutrients to the plant. In addition to fertilizers, manure can be applied to soils with low organic matter content.
The ear heads of finger millet are harvested around 40 days after flowering. These ear heads are placed in muslin cloth bags and allowed to dry in shade for a week. After harvesting, these panicles are winned and cleaned of debris. The resulting seed should be used to plant finger millet. The soil should be well-drained, free of weeds, and of a fine tilth. Otherwise, the plant will not grow.
The level of nitrogen applied had no significant influence on LAI in Minjibir and Gambawa. However, the amount of N applied was significantly different among the varieties at six WAS. In Minjibir and Onamudian, combined application of N+P produced average LAIs of 800 kg ha-1 and 1.6 kg ha-1, respectively. The P-fertilizer application had no significant effect on plant height, which might be due to the role of farmers in applying farmyard fertilizer in the fields.
Finger millet nutrition is not known at this time, but research has indicated that it is dependent on the climate. At higher altitudes, the nutrient content of finger millet was greater than at lower altitudes. However, it was also related to the soil quality. It was also found that higher temperature reduced the nutrient content of the soil. Therefore, the amount of fertilizer needed to grow finger millet in a specific location should be determined by the soil composition in that area.
The N-fertilizer level also influenced the SY of pearl millet. The highest SY was at 80 kg Nha-1 in Minjibir, and the lowest at 60 kg Nha-1 in Gambawa. The local variety had the highest SY. Overall, N-fertilizer level did not significantly affect GY. However, N-fertilizer levels did affect water use efficiency.
HI (soil fertility index) and TWU (temperature-weighted yield) were significant predictors of GY in Gambawa and Minjibir. In both cases, the break-even yield was more than 1000 kg ha-1, which means that farmers with lower than average yields are producing millet at a loss. Finger millet is highly profitable, but there is more research needed to determine the exact requirements for fertilizer.
As the most widely grown type of millet, pearl millet is a great source of feed for livestock. It grows anywhere, even in the driest areas. The plant can also tolerate a high salt level in the soil. However, the nutrients in salty soils are necessary to avoid adverse effects of salt stress. While nitrogen fertilizer can reduce the adverse effects of salt on plants, assimilation is more efficient, it is less cost-effective.