Agronomic Interventions for Optimizing Productivity in Millets: A Review

Climate-resilient crops are pivotal in guaranteeing food security in the face of climate change. Millets can effectively adjust to the prevailing climatic conditions in a specific geographic area. Millets offer a range of benefits that make them a valuable component of sustainable and resilient agricultural systems. The factors that can harm millet productivity and crop yields include delayed sowings, using low yielding crop varieties, poor plant population, cultivating crops on nutrient deficient soils without fertilizers, unprofitable farming systems, weed infestation and insufficient protective irrigation. To optimize the productivity of millets some agronomic interventions are necessary. For productivity enhancement of millets, modified land configuration techniques will address the soil related problems. An ideal crop geometry ensures the establishment of a healthy and uniform stand in the main field. Development of low-cost input technologies such as microdosing, balance fertilisation will be necessary for productivity optimisation. Soil test based balanced nutrition by applying organic nutrient sources along with NPK and micronutrients will enhance the productivity over the application of only fertilizers. Optimum irrigation and integrated weed management help to improve millet productivity. Millets can assure agricultural sustainability in drylands under intercropping system. Intercropping millet with various pulses and oilseeds offers a significant opportunity to make the most efficient use of land and other resources. This diversification can enhance agricultural productivity and better address the needs of a growing population.