Small Millets Research Articles

Knowledge Level of Finger Millet Growers about Nutrient Management Practices in Krishnagiri District of Tamil Nadu

Finger millet is an important small millet crop among other millets in India. In Tamil Nadu, it covers an area of 1,04,426 ha with a production of 349.63 lakh tonnesand an average productivity of 3348 kg ha-1. Nutrient application in finger millet can effectively increase the yield. As the nutrient management practices in finger millet plays an important role in yield increase, an ex-post facto study was conducted to study the knowledge level of finger millet growers about recommended nutrient management practices. The study was conducted in Thally and Kelamangalam blocks of Krishnagiri district with a sample size of 120 finger millet growers. It was found that most respondents possessed a medium to high level of knowledge about recommended nutrient management practices andalso, it was found thattraining was the most influencing factor on the knowledge level of the respondents. Hence, the state department of agriculture has to carry out Volume xxx | Issue xxxx | 2 necessary extension interventions such as result demonstration, training programmes and field visits to increase the knowledge level of the farmers on recommended nutrient management practices in finger millet cultivation.

Comparative evaluation of different media and pH for the culturing of Bipolaris setariae causing leaf blight in browntop millet in India

Browntop millet was newly included in the millet cropping system in India as one of the small millet. Incidence of leaf blight was observed to be severe in all millet growing regions of India and the causal organism was confirmed as B. setariae using molecular tools viz., ITS and GPDH genes. As the crop was newly included in the millet system, investigation was needed to carry out about disease causing agents their biology and culture conditions. In this study, an attempt was made to identify the ideal culturing and physiological requirements for culturing B. setariae. Results revealed that solid media such as Czapek Dox agar (CDA) and host leaf decoction agar with 2 per cent sucrose are ideal for better growth and abundant sporulation while, pH 6.0 to pH 7.0 were found to be ideal for radial mycelial growth and sporulation. These cultural and physiological conditions can be used for the future studies while working on the pathogen causing browntop millet leaf blight.

Characterization of Barnyard millet (Echinocloa frumentaceae (Roxb.) Link) germplasm for quantitative traits to enhance its utilization

 Barnyard millet, Echinochloa sp. is one of the important small millet crops used as food and fodder crop. Utilization of diverse germplasm is important in breeding programme to improve yield of the crop. In the present study, 494 barnyard millet germplasm were characterized using multivariate traits. Wide variation was observed for most of the traits indicated the scope of importance of these characters by direct selection. Phenotypic correlation between grain yield per plant was in significantly positive association with days to 50% flowering, plant height, the number of productive tillers, days to maturity and straw weight whereas, it was negatively associated with length of peduncle. Principle component analysis showed that the first two components contributed about 64% of the total variability. The proportions of the total variance attributed to the first two principle components were 43% and 20% respectively. The characters days to 50% flowering, plant height, days to maturity and straw weight were the most important traits contributing to the total variance in the first two principle components, indicating their importance for the characterization of barnyard millet germplasm accessions and these traits could be effectively used for future breeding programmes to create more variability. K means clustering method based on 7 quantitative traits among 494 barnyard millet germplasm was able to separate and grouped them into 23 clusters. Crossing accessions belonging to different clusters would maximize opportunities for transgressive segregation because of the higher probability that unrelated genotypes will contribute unique desirable alleles at multiple loci. Variability present in barnyard millet germplasm can be effectively used for the selection of specific donor lines for improvement of barnyard millet.

Design and development of hermetic storage bin for de-hulled Kodo millet

Hermetic storage is sealed airtight non-chemical based storage system used to preserve the quality of grain, protect from pests, insects, and minimizes the storage losses. A hermetic storage bin was designed with a capacity 200 kg for de-hulled kodo millet. To design the hermetic bin the physical properties of de-hulled kodo millet such as bulk density, true density, porosity, angle of repose and co-efficient of friction were studied. The bulk density, true density, porosity, and angle of repose of de-hulled kodo millet were found to be 685.42 kg/m3, 1250 kg/m3, 45.16% and 26.1°. The co-efficient of friction of de-hulled kodo millet against the mild steel was found to be 0.781. The lateral pressure exerted on the wall surface for was 123.45 kg/m3 at the height of 0.6m. Pressure decay test was performed to check the air tightness of the hermetic bin. This hermetic bin can advocated to farmers and processors for value addition of small millets.

Millet Scenario in India

Millets have high nutritional qualities and produce well under marginal conditions but they are not used to the extent that is possible. It is a number of small-grained cereal grasses and based on the grain size, millets classified as major millets and small grain millets. Major millets include sorghum and pearl millet whereas small grain millet includes finger millet, foxtail millet, kodo millet, proso millet, barnyard millet and little millet. Millets are rich in minerals and vitamins compared to rice and wheat; millets have the huge potential to provide security of food, nutrition, fodder, fiber, health, livelihood and ecology. In view of all these qualities those they so amazingly combine, millets only be called as Miracle Grains/ Nutria-Cereals. Inclusion of millet crops in a concerted way in cropping systems and also particularly in fragile ecosystems, is a virtuous move towards sustainability. Also, importance in marketing and value addition improves the millet cultivation. In this connection, the present study was carried out to examine the scenario of millets in India from 1950-51 to 2018-19 and data were collected from ministry of economics and statistics, seasonal and crop report and analysed by using compound growth rate. The growth rate of millet area and production registered negative growth i.e., area and production declining at the rate of 16.31 per cent and 13.58 per cent per year respectively. In the same way productivity was declining up to 2005 after that, it showed positive growth (3.23 per cent). Also, studied the economics of crops and observed that cost of cultivation for millet crops (sorghum and maize) compared to other important crops was lower i.e. Maize - ` 85915/ha, Sorghum - ` 47830/ha. In the same way, gross income realized by millet farmer was also low except maize crop. In India, the cost of cultivation was high in Tamil Nadu for most of the millet crop across the states due to the high human labour cost. Hence, there is a need to formulate suitable strategies considering the economic value of the crops. Therefore, the study came out with conclusion of proper cultivation practices, marketing and processing should be given to improve the millet production in India.

Small Millets for Enduring Food Security Amidst Pandemics.

Food security is an ongoing problem, and current staple foods are not sufficient to overcome challenges such as the present COVID-19 pandemic. We propose here that small millets have the potential to become new staple crops, especially in hunger hotspots. Currently, the absence of intensification of millet farming, lack of deployment of genetic tools for trait improvement, and the need for optimization of storage and supply chains limit crop production. We highlight a roadmap to strengthen small millet cultivation, such as identifying varieties suitable for particular environments and targeting trait improvement using genetic and genomic approaches. These approaches will help to combat hunger and malnutrition and also economically benefit the farmers and stakeholders involved in small millet cultivation amidst the ongoing pandemic.

Allelopathic Influence of <i>Quercus</i> Species on Performance of Traditional Food Crops of the Western Himalayan Region

The present study was undertaken to assess the allelopathic effect of three Quercus species viz., Q. leucotrichophora , Q. floribunda and Q. serrata on germination and radicle-plumule growth of small millets ( Echinochloa frumentacea , Eleusine coracana and Amaranthus caudatus ) and one cereal crop wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) which are the major agricultural hill crops through laboratory bioassay. The aqueous extracts were prepared from the leaf and bark of the selected Quercus species and diluted to get 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100% concentrations. When increasing concentrations of leaf and bark extracts from 10 to 100%, it inhibited the germination and growth performance of test crops. Among the test crops, T. aestivum and E. frumentacea were found most susceptible while E. coracana and A. caudatus were the most resistant test crops. The leaf extracts were found to be more toxic in inhibiting germination and radicle-plumule growth of test crops as compared to bark extracts. The importance of these tree crops as prominent agroforestry tree species decreased in order Q. leucotrichophora < Q. floribunda < Q. serrata respectively Therefore, the results obtained within the scope of our study yielded sufficient preliminary evidence for considerable allelopathic effects from Q. floribunda and Q. serrata .

Intercropping of small millets for agricultural sustainability in drylands : A review

The scope for enhancement of productivity under irrigated conditions is limited because of over-exploitation of available resources, but there is ample opportunity for boosting yield in drylands by adopting suitable crops and cropping systems. The agricultural sustainability in drylands is comparatively hard to achieve due to different constraints like poor soil fertility, lack of irrigation facilities and moisture stress, small holdings and less investment in agriculture. Choice of ecologically sound crops as millets and adoption of intercropping systems are two of suitable options for maximization of productivity in drylands. Millets are ancient nutri-cereals which can play a crucial role in food as well as nutritional security of the country and can assure agricultural sustainability in drylands under intercropping system. The combination of cereal and legume in intercropping is mostly preferred by the farmers in subsistence farming targeting livelihood security. Experiments carried out on intercropping of some small millets in India and abroad clearly indicated numerous benefits like enhancement of crops productivity, greater resource use efficiency, check in run-off of water and soil conservation in erosion prone areas, prevention of loss of soil nutrients, improvement of soil health, insurance against crop failure under aberrant weather conditions, higher monetary return and benefit-cost ratio. But the performance of all small millets is not tested under intercropping under different regions. There is still insufficiency in research on small millets based intercropping system which can create further scope for agricultural sustainability of drylands.

Organoleptic Properties of Ready to Reconstitute Little Millet Smoothie with Fruit Juices

Millets being climate resilient crops with high nutritional value are far better than staple grains like wheat and rice. Being adaptable to wide range of agro ecological conditions, the nutricereals little millet can grow on low fertility dry lands meeting demands of exploding population and providing solution to agrarian and nutritional challenges the world is dealing with. Further, value addition could be a strategic intervention in popularization of underutilized small millets and transform the billions of people from nutrient insufficiency to nutrient adequacy. The present fast-paced era with increased nuclear families and changing eating habits due to rapid urbanisation and globalisation demands for development of ready to consume nutrient dense food. In addition, growing awareness regarding health benefits of millets demands for millet-based designer foods to meet diversified needs of consumers. In view of these aspects, a ready to reconstitute (RTR) little millet smoothie mix was developed and tested for its suitability to blend with fruit juices through sensory profiling. The nourishing little millet and fruit-based smoothies would be a healthy inclusion in one’s daily diet with a great market potential.

Demonstration of production potential, value addition and economic benefits of climate resilient crop-fox tail millet (Setaria italica) IN comparison with ragi (Eleusine coracona)

Small millets are more nutritious and feature a lower glycaemic index than rice and wheat. However, factors like lack of improved varieties, agronomical practices and value addition in minor millets are constraining the production, productivity and the social economic conditions of farmers. Front line demonstrations on Production Potential and Value Addition of Foxtail Millet was carried out by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ramanagara in 30 hectares comprising 80 demos (farmers) in 15 villages of Ramanagara district of Karnataka, India from 2013 to 2017 with the objective of demonstrating the production potential of foxtail millet over finger millet and the importance of value addition in millets apart from analysing the yield gaps. The results of the front line demonstrations revealed that the locally grown finger millet Ragi recorded almost 90 per cent higher yield over demonstrated foxtail millet but the net returns realised at the farm gate level was high for fox tail millet (Rs.48511.3/ha) compared to Ragi (Rs. 42852/ha). It was found that the demonstration enhanced the farmer’s income by increasing benefit: cost ratio to the tune of 5.7 in foxtail millet compared to ragi (2.3). An additional income of Rs.8943/- (42.7 per cent) was obtained in fox tail millet compared to widely grown ragi.

Energetics of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn) Cultivation as Influenced by Integrated Nutrient Management

Finger millets ((Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn) is one of the important small millets cultivated in India under subsistence farming in drylands. Though it is low demanding crop energy involvement is there in profitable raising of finger millet. Increase in energy use in agriculture production at a faster rate in India because of mechanization and enhancing chemical usage. To study the energy use in finger millet cultivation, a field trail was conducted at Bagusala Farm of M.S. Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology Management, Paralakhemundi, Odisha. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and ten treatments. The treatment comprises of T1: control, T2: FYM @ 4 t ha−1,T3: FYM @ 8 t ha−1, T4: 100% RDF (40:20:20 kg ha−1 of N: P2O5: K2O), T5: 50% RDF + 4 t FYM, T6, 75% RDF + 2 t FYM, T7: FYM 4 t ha−1 + Azospirillum@ 5 kg ha−1, T8: FYM 8 t ha−1 + Azospirillum@ 5 kg ha−1, T9: 50% RDF + 4 t FYM + Azospirillum@ 5 kg ha−1 and T10: 75% RDF + 2 t FYM + Azospirillum@ 5 kg ha−1. The results revealed that all the energy parameters except energy productivity were significantly influenced by different treatments. The highest maximum energy input, gross energy output, net energy and energy intensity in term of economics were recorded maximum with application of 100% RDF and maximum energy use efficiency and energy productivity was noticed with application of FYM 8 t ha−1 + Azospirillum.

Potential horizon of brown-top millet cultivation in drylands : A review

Millets are recently recognized as ‘nutri-cereals’ due to their superiority in terms of dietary value to other cereals. India has the heritage to grow different kinds of millets since the ancient time. Different small millets have unique quality to combat with the extreme climatic conditions which are more relevant as adaptation option in the present scenario of issues related to global warming and climate change. The production sustainability is must considering the growing population of the world and it is a major concern in developing countries with more population. The small millets can play important role in this regard as these are ecologically sound, belong to C4 group of plants, tolerant to different adverse climatic conditions including drought and can produce a moderate yield for food and nutritional sustainability. Amongst different small millets, the importance brown-top millet has recognized recently as it has huge potential to make faring in resource-poor and fragile ecological conditions and thus can ensure economic and nutritional security as well as production sustainability of smallholders. But it is astonishing that sufficient research has not been carried out and information is not available and ample scope is there for future research to exploit the potential of the crop. An attempt has been made to gather information on brown-top millet on the basis of experimental results as well as available literature.

Performance of finger and foxtail millet at different levels of nutrient and cultural management

In India, finger millet and small millets respectively occupy 11.93 and 6.82 lakh ha area with a production of 199.92 and 4.89 lakh tones and the productivity of 1661 and 633 kg ha-1 (GOI, 2014). The yield potential of finger and foxtail millet is low as compared to the potentially achievable yield because of inadequate application of fertilizers, conventional cultivation of low yielding cultivars and lack of good management practices. The finger millet responded to fertilizer application from 90: 40: 25 to 100: 50: 50 Kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1 while foxtail millet responded from 30:15:15 to 50:30:20 Kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1 in red sandy loam to clay soils of South India. In this paper the research done on production technology of finger millet and foxtail millet in various regions of the country has been reviewed and presented comprehensively.

Healthy and Resilient Cereals and Pseudo-Cereals for Marginal Agriculture: Molecular Advances for Improving Nutrient Bioavailability.

With the ever-increasing world population, an extra 1.5 billion mouths need to be fed by 2050 with continuously dwindling arable land. Hence, it is imperative that extra food come from the marginal lands that are expected to be unsuitable for growing major staple crops under the adverse climate change scenario. Crop diversity provides right alternatives for marginal environments to improve food, feed, and nutritional security. Well-adapted and climate-resilient crops will be the best fit for such a scenario to produce seed and biomass. The minor millets are known for their high nutritional profile and better resilience for several abiotic stresses that make them the suitable crops for arid and salt-affected soils and poor-quality waters. Finger millet (Eleucine coracana) and foxtail millet (Setaria italica), also considered as orphan crops, are highly tolerant grass crop species that grow well in marginal and degraded lands of Africa and Asia with better nutritional profile. Another category of grains, called pseudo-cereals, is considered as rich foods because of their protein quality and content, high mineral content, and healthy and balance food quality. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), amaranth (Amaranthus sp.), and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) fall under this category. Nevertheless, both minor millets and pseudo-cereals are morphologically different, although similar for micronutrient bioavailability, and their grains are gluten-free. The cultivation of these millets can make dry lands productive and ensure future food as well as nutritional security. Although the natural nutrient profile of these crop plant species is remarkably good, little development has occurred in advances in molecular genetics and breeding efforts to improve the bioavailability of nutrients. Recent advances in NGS have enabled the genome and transcriptome sequencing of these millets and pseudo-cereals for the faster development of molecular markers and application in molecular breeding. Genomic information on finger millet (1,196 Mb with 85,243 genes); S. italica, a model small millet (well-annotated draft genome of 420 Mb with 38,801 protein-coding genes); amaranth (466 Mb genome and 23,059 protein-coding genes); buckwheat (genome size of 1.12 Gb with 35,816 annotated genes); and quinoa (genome size of 1.5 Gb containing 54,438 protein-coding genes) could pave the way for the genetic improvement of these grains. These genomic resources are an important first step toward genetic improvement of these crops. This review highlights the current advances and available resources on genomics to improve nutrient bioavailability in these five suitable crops for the sustained healthy livelihood.

Importance of minor millets (Nutri Cereals) for nutrition purpose in present scenario

Minor millets (Nutri cereals) are the groups of small seeded cereals belonging to the family Poaceae. There are upto thirty-five species of grasses from 20 genera are well known as small millets. The most important cultivated species of small millets are finger millet, Foxtail, proso millet, barnyard millet, kodo millet and little millet. One of the minor millet namely barnyard millet is the richestsource of calcium content, about 10 times that of rice or wheat. Minor millets are also full of micronutrients like Mg, Ca, Mn, tryptophan, phosphorous, fibre, B vitamins. These micronutrients act as antioxidants which are essential to human body. Additional specialty of minor millets is, they need very less water for their cultivation and can withstand severe climatic conditions. There is need of new high yielding, promotional strategies and policies are necessary to increase the area under nutri cereals crops to achieve nutritional security as well as sustain rainfed farming in the country.

Agronomic Management of Little Millet (Panicum sumatrense L.) for Enhancement of Productivity and Sustainability

During recent time small millets have been re-evaluated as nutri-cereals. The grains of small millets are used as nutritious food and straw as palatable forage for livestock. Moreover, these crops enrich agro-diversity, check erosion in arid regions, sequester carbon and assure food and nutritional security to smallholders in drylands. But productivity of small millets is less compared to other cereals. Like other small millets, little millet (Panicum sumatrens L.) is also rich in nutrients, possesses other qualities and as a short duration crop it fits to different cropping systems. Sufficient research work has not been carried out on agronomic management targeting higher productivity. An initiative has been taken to gather information from available literature on improved agronomic management of little millet and presented in the article. Further, the article highlighted the future scope of research on the crop.

Nitrate toxicity in annual forages: Survey of beef producer perspectives and samples submitted to a commercial testing laboratory in Nebraska

The objective was to assess the prevalence and management of nitrate toxicity when beef producers use annual forages. A survey was distributed online and advertised via extension outlets in Nebraska and Kansas. Additionally, examination of the various annual forage samples submitted to Ward Laboratories Inc. (Kearney, NE) for nitrate-nitrogen (NO 3 -N) analysis was conducted to determine the frequency that various annual forages have been evaluated for nitrate content. Most survey respondents (n = 107/115; 93%) were from the midwestern United States, and 85% indicated that they use annual forages in 3 or more years out of 5. These producers were more ( P = 0.02) likely to test annual forages fed as hay (53%) than grazed (38%). There was a tendency ( P = 0.09) for more producers to suggest that they have had nitrate toxicity issues with annual forage pasture (34%) than with hay (24%), though the majority had not experienced issues (62%) with either. When small grains, millet, and sorghum × sudangrass were evaluated, fresh forage (<26% DM) had greater ( P < 0.01) nitrate content than dry forages (>84% DM). Overall, 48% of the fresh brassica samples, 23% fresh annual grasses, and 5% of the dry annual grasses were considered at risk for causing nitrate toxicity as they exceeded 2,100 mg of NO 3 -N/kg of DM. These data suggest that annual forages are infrequently tested for nitrates and that the majority of survey respondents have not experienced nitrate toxicity when using annual forages.

An Investigation in Yield Gap and Technology Transfer of Small Millets in the Hilly Tracts of Uttarakhand

An Investigation in Yield Gap and Technology Transfer of Small Millets in the Hilly Tracts of Uttarakhand

Promoting minor millets for food and nutritional security

The term millet includes a number of small grained cereal grasses, According to the grain size, millets have been categorized as major millets which include sorghum and pearl millet and several small grained millets which include finger millet (ragi) foxtail millet (kangni), kodo millet (kodo), proso millet (cheena), barnyard millet (sawan) and little millet (kutki). Minor millets are borne on short, slender and grassy plants. They are mainly grown in arid, semi-arid or mountain zones as rainfed crops in marginal and sub-marginal soils. These cereals have the capacity of growing during adverse soil and climatic conditions and several of their cultivars are of short duration (60-80 days) producing about 0.5 t ha(-1) which is better than no crop. Some of the minor millets are ideal for contingency crop planning to take advantages of late receipt of rains, failure of the first crop due to unexpected long drought or even receding flood situations. They are amazing in their nutritional content. Compared to rice and wheat mineral content in small/minor millets is higher. While finger millet contains 30 times more calcium than rice and wheat, other minor millets contain at least two times more calcium than rice and wheat. Little millet and foxtail millet have a higher amount of iron. They are also have therapeutic qualities. Minor millets, being non-glutanous, therefore are used for people with gluten allergy. The fat content in minor millets not only provides energy but also aids in balanced proportions and is rich in methionine, cysteine and lysine. These are especially beneficial to vegetarians who depend on plant food for their protein nourishment. The grain contains high proportions of carbohydrates and dietary fibre which help in prevention of constipation, lowering cholesterol and slow release of glucose to the blood stream during digestion. Important vitamins viz., thiamine, riboflavin and niacin are present in higher quantities. However, it is also reported that cardiovascular diseases, duodenal ulcers and hypoglycaemia occur rarely in minor millet eaters. In spite of several health and economic benefits, minor millets are disappearing from the people's diet and farm soils due to the shift in food habits, rapid rate of urbanization, time and energy required to prepare minor millet based foods, poor marketing facilities and processing techniques. Mechanical polishing is well-known for rice, wheat and maize but for minor cereals this step is unknown. For instance, large scale imports of rice and wheat and policies to subsidize production of those crops had negative impact on the production of minor millets. Therefore, urgent attention must be given to the production and consumption of these minor cereal crops to ensure food and nutritional security throughout the country.

Dehulled small millets: The promising nutricereals for improving the nutrition of children.

Good nutrition during a child's early years lays a strong foundation of health for the rest of its life. Yet in India, there is widespread prevalence of undernourishment among children below 5 years of age. Within the Indian context, small millets have great potential as a healthy food to address this challenge by the virtue of their nutritional qualities. However, there are many problems with the current processing technology for small millets, whereas the use of value‐added products was minimal. To address this, an assessment of existing small millet processing machinery was undertaken, and a double chamber centrifugal dehuller was developed, which had higher recovery of dehulled unpolished millets and met requirements at the village and enterprise levels. To demonstrate the health benefits of consuming value‐added small millets, a study of supplementation of multi‐millet health mix on the nutritional status of primary schoolchildren was conducted in Thondamuthur Block of Coimbatore District, India. Multi‐millet health mix was formulated from kodo millet, little millet, foxtail millet, finger millet, and wheat with the inclusion of pulses. It contained 65.45‐g carbohydrate, 11.46‐g protein, 4.94‐g fat, 4.94‐g fibre, 4.07‐mg iron, 112‐mg calcium, 268.52‐mg phosphorus, and 349 calories of energy per 100 g. The study indicated that there was a significant increase in height, weight, and haemoglobin level of the schoolchildren who regularly consumed the formulated multi‐millet health mix. The improved huller and value‐added food product developed can be feasible options for improving nutrition security and livelihoods through increased use of small millets.