ABSTRACT
The word millet is used as a collective term to embrace a group of annual grasses, including 10 genera and 12 to 14 species, all of which are grown primarily for their edible grain. Pearl millet is best adapted to light textured, well-drained soils although it has a wide range of soil adaptation. In India, pearl millet has responded most to applications of N and somewhat less to P. In general, applications of N and P or N, P and K are superior to applications of N alone. While soil testing is commonly practiced in some countries where pearl millet is produced as a food crop, the experiments necessary to correlate accurately soil tests results with fertilizer response generally have not been conducted, although considerable progress is being made. The need for minor elements in pearl millet production is not generally recognized and there is little evidence to indicate--except in a few isolated cases--that deficiencies occur.
