ABSTRACT
Barley (Hordeum vulgare) ......................................................................................89 8.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................89 8.2 Soils, Agroclimate and Cropping Systems .......................................................91 8.3 Expanse and Productivity ................................................................................92 Keywords ...................................................................................................................94 References ..................................................................................................................94 Exercise ......................................................................................................................95 Further Reading .........................................................................................................95 Useful Websites ..........................................................................................................95 Oats (Avena sativa) ..................................................................................................96 8.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................96 8.2 Soils, Agroclimate and Cropping Systems .......................................................97 8.2.1 Soils......................................................................................................97 8.2.2 Agroclimate and Cropping Systems .....................................................98 8.3 Expanse and Productivity ................................................................................98 Keywords ...................................................................................................................99 References ..................................................................................................................99 Exercise ......................................................................................................................99 Further Reading .........................................................................................................99 Useful Websites ..........................................................................................................99 Pearl Millet (Pennesitum glaucum) ......................................................................100 8.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................100 8.2 Soils, Agroclimate and Cropping Systems .....................................................101 8.2.1 Cropping Systems ..............................................................................103 8.3 Expanse And Productivity ..............................................................................104 Keywords .................................................................................................................105
References ................................................................................................................105 Exercise ....................................................................................................................106 Further Reading .......................................................................................................106 Useful Websites ........................................................................................................106 Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica) ...............................................................................107 8.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................107 8.2 Soils, Agroclimate and Cropping Systems .....................................................108 8.2.1 Soils....................................................................................................108 8.2.2 Agroclimate and Water Requirements ...............................................109 8.2.3 Cropping Systems ..............................................................................109 8.3 Expanse and Productivity .............................................................................. 110 Keywords ................................................................................................................. 111 References ................................................................................................................ 112 Exercise .................................................................................................................... 112 Further Reading ....................................................................................................... 112 Useful Websites ........................................................................................................ 112 Proso Millet (Panicum miliaceum) ....................................................................... 113 8.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 113 8.2 Soils, Agroclimate and Cropping Systems ..................................................... 114 8.2.1 Soils.................................................................................................... 114 8.2.2 Agroclimate ........................................................................................ 115 8.2.3 Cropping Systems .............................................................................. 115 8.3 Expanse and Productivity .............................................................................. 116 Keywords ................................................................................................................. 117 References ................................................................................................................ 117 Exercise .................................................................................................................... 117 Further Reading ....................................................................................................... 118 Useful Websites ........................................................................................................ 118
Millets are small seeded grass species belonging to family Poaceae. There are several genera and species of millets that are well spread all over the agrarian regions of the world. Millets are preferred species in harsh environments, regions with low fertility soils and unpredictable rainfall pattern. Millets are of great value in the semiarid and arid regions of the world. They are particularly accepted in areas with short growing season that occurs in regions afflicted with either cold and frost or dry hot spells. Millets usually complete their life cycle within the short congenial period. Millets suit the economically less endowed farmers situated in different continents. They are perhaps the best bets for subsistence farming conditions. However, they may also be equally good preferences to make in regions endowed with fertile soils, congenial agroclimate and high fertilizer inputs. In tune with the context of this book, we should note that millets, almost each species, forms a small or large scattered or uniformly even cropping belt-in other words agroecosystems. These millet species have carved out a niche for themselves under the given agroclimatic condition and natural resources. As stated above, there are indeed many species of millets used by humans for grains, forage and several other purposes related to industrial uses, etc. Pearl millet (Pennesitum glaucum); Finger millet (Eleusine coracana); Foxtail millet (Setaria italica); Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum); Kodo millet (Panicum romosum); Little millet (Panicum miliare); Japanese millet (Echinochloa frumentaceaea); Tef (Ergrostis tef) and Rye (Secale cereale) are few examples. Considering the brevity of this volume and importance of the crop at present, only two minor cereal species and three millet species have been dealt in this chapter.
