BAJRA (Pearl Millet)

• Botanical Name: Pennisetum americanum or Pennisetum glaucum
• Chromosome Number (2n): 14
• Origin: Africa
• Pollination: Cross-pollinated (Protogynous)
• Nickname: Poor man’s food grain

Uses of Bajra:

• Roti, porridge, flour, snacks
• Fodder, silage, and green manure

Climate Requirement:

• Hot and dry conditions; thrives in arid and semi-arid regions
• Optimum temperature: 28–32°C
• Rainfall: 350–600 mm is ideal

Soil Requirement:

• Sandy loam to loam; well-drained
• Tolerates acidic to saline-alkaline soils (pH 6.0–8.5)

Major Bajra Growing States:

• Rajasthan (1st in area and production), Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana

Nutritional Value:

• High in iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), fiber, and protein
• Gluten-free and suitable for diabetic patients

Research and Importance:

• AICRP on Pearl Millet: Located in Jodhpur
• Also known as candle millet, dark millet, spiked millet
• Highest mineral content (2.7%) among cereals
• Prop/Brace Roots: Emerge from 2nd & 3rd nodes for support
• Drought Tolerance: Highest among cereals & millets
• Very low water requirement, but sensitive to waterlogging

Seed Rate:

• Direct sowing: 4–5 kg/ha
• Transplanting: 2 kg/ha

Notable Varieties & Lines:

• First Male Sterile Line: Tift 23-A1
• First Hybrid: HB-1 (1965, PAU, Ludhiana) → Tift 23-A × BIL-3B
• Popular Hybrid: PHB-10 (1975, PAU, Ludhiana)
• Pusa Napier-1: Developed in 1947 via inter-specific cross: Pennisetum purpureum × P. glaucum

Weed Issue:

• Striga spp. also affects Bajra, as in Jowar
• Nitrogen Efficiency: Bajra is nitro-positive
• Pre-emergence: Atrazine @ 0.5 kg/ha
• Manual weeding at 20–25 DAS

Diseases and Pests:

• Downy mildew, smut, ergot, rust – major diseases
• Shoot fly and stem borer – major insect pests

Fertilizer Dose (Rainfed):

• 60:30:20 NPK kg/ha
• Apply 1/2 N as basal; rest at 25–30 DAS

Pearl Millet (Bajra) Important One-Liner Questions

• Scientific name → Pennisetum glaucum (syn. Cenchrus americanus) 
• Family → Poaceae (Gramineae)
• Origin → West Africa 
• Pearl millet is a → C4 crop 
• Pollination → Cross-pollinated (protogynous) 
• Fruit type → Caryopsis
• Inflorescence → Spike-like panicle (ear head) 
• Chromosome number → 2n = 14
• Pearl millet is a → Kharif crop 
• Most drought tolerant cereal
• Optimum temperature → 28–32°C
• Suitable soil → Light sandy loam to loamy soil
• Grows well in → Low rainfall areas
• Seed rate → 4–5 kg/ha 
• Spacing → 45 × 15 cm
• Method of sowing → Drilling / Dibbling
• Thinning done at → 10–15 DAS
• Recommended fertilizer → 60:30:20 NPK kg/ha 
• Nitrogen applied in → 2 splits
• Biofertilizer → Azospirillum / Azotobacter
• Mostly grown under → Rainfed conditions
• Critical weed competition → First 20–30 days 
• Herbicide → Atrazine (pre-emergence)
• Harvest at → Physiological maturity
• Grain moisture at harvest → 20–25%
• Storage moisture → 12%
• Average yield → 15–20 q/ha
• Pearl millet is called → Poor man’s crop 
• Most drought and heat tolerant cereal
• Rich in → Iron and protein 
• Used for → Food, fodder, and forage
• Pearl millet research → ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research (Hyderabad)
• Scientific name → Pennisetum glaucum
• Pollination → Protogyny
• Major disease → Downy mildew
• Herbicide → Atrazine
• C4 crop
• Drought tolerant
• Chromosome number → 14