NIGER AGRONOMY PRACTICE

Yield Gap Analysis

·       Niger Is Cultivated During Kharif Season Over An Area Of 0.29 Million Ha With Production Of 0.09 Million Tonnes And Productivity Level Of 3.0 Q/Ha. It Is Cultivated In The States Of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra And Karnataka. There Are Wide Productivity Differentials Across The States Due To Socio-Economic And Agro-Ecological Situations (Tribal Dominated Crop Production In Eastern Highland Zone Of Odisha, Chhattisgarh And Madhya Pradesh), And Predominantly Under Marginal Conditions Of Small-Holder Agriculture. Drought, Broadcast Sowing, Improper Plant Population, Low Input Management, Cuscuta, Lodging Due To High Wind And Rain Are The Causes Of Low Productivity.

State

No. Offlds

Seed Yieldin It(Kg/Ha)

Say *(Kg/Ha)

% Increaseover Say

Nay**(Kg/Ha)

Way***(Kg/Ha)

Bihar

60

441

Na

Na

 

 

Jharkhand

69

419

394

6.4

 

 

Karnataka

38

450

296

52.2

350          327

 

Madhya Pradesh

95

505

273

84.4

 

 

Maharashtra

95

372

286

30.0

 

 

Total/Mean

410

427

305

39.9

 

 

Soil:

·       Niger Could Be Raised In Wide Range Of Soils From Clay Loam To Sandy Loam, Sandy And Gravel Soil. It Can Withstand Slight Alkalinity And Salinity Also.

Sowing Time:

·       Primarily, Niger Is A Kharif Crop, But Mostly Sown In Late July/ August.

Seed Treatment:

·       Seed Should Be Treated With Thiram Or Captan 3.0 G/Kg Seed Before Sowing. Seed Treatment With Phosphorus Solubilising Bacteria (Psb) 10 G/Kg Seed Gives Higher Yield.

Seed Rate:

·       Normally 5 Kg/Ha Seed Is Required For The Sole Crop. Line Sowing Has Been Found Beneficial With Spacing Of 30cm X 10cm.

Method Of Sowing:

·       The Crop Is Largely Sown By Broadcasting. Seeds Are Mixed With Sand/ Powdered Fym/ Ash To Increase The Bulk, 20 Times To Ensure Even Distribution Of Seed.

Nutrient Management:

·       The Crop Is Mostly Grown On Marginal And Sub-Marginal Land Without Manure Or Fertilizer Application. However, Application Of Recommended N Through Urea + Seed Treatment With Psb 10 G/Kg Seed Enhances Yield Significantly. Application Of Sulphur (20-30 Kg/Ha) Increases Seed Yield And Oil Content In Niger.

Weed Management:

·       First Weeding Is Needed 15-20 Days After Sowing. In Orissa, Cuscuta (Cuscuta Hyalina/ C. Chinensis) Infestation Has Become A Major Problem. Seed Should Be Obtained From Cuscuta Free Areas. Cuscuta Seeds Could Be Separated With A 1 Mm Sieve.

·       Pre Sowing Soil Application Of Fluchloralin (1 Kg A.I./Ha). Or Pre Emergence Application Of Pendimethalin (1.5 Kg A.I./Ha).

Water Management:

·       It Is Invariably Grown In The Rainy Season And It Is Seldom Irrigated. There Are Indications That Niger Yields Can Be Doubled Under Irrigation, It The Crop Suffers From Moisture Stress. Irrigation May Be Given At The Seedling Stage.

Harvesting:

·       Niger Usually Matures In 95-105 Days After Sowing. The Crop Should Be Harvested When The Leaves Dry Up And The Capitula Turn Brownish / Blackish In Colour.

Yield:

·       A. Pure Crop – 400-500 Kg/Ha

·       B. Intercrop – 150-300 Kg/Ha