1. After completing this Lesson, you have learned to answer: 1.Why pearl millet yields are often low when grown under rainfed conditions? 2.How irrigation helps pearl millet crop? 3.What is the advantage of pre-sowing irrigation in pearl millet cultivation? 4.Which are the critical stages for water requirement in pearl millet plant growth? Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Lesson 2: Irrigation Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation

2. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Lesson 2: Irrigation Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation After completing this Lesson, you have learned to answer: 5.What symptoms help you to decide the irrigation requirement for pearl millet crop? 6.List the irrigation schedule for a ratoon pearl millet crop? 7.What contingency plan you will follow in the event of drought during the pearl millet crop growth?

3. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Lesson 2: Irrigation Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Pearl millet is mainly grown under rainfed situation. Only about 8% of pearl millet area is irrigated in India. Pearl millet crop is exposed to drought conditions very often during its growth and consequently the yields are lower than the potential yield. So, if the farmers want higher pearl millet yields even during the rainy season, the answer is irrigation, if water is available.

4. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Lesson 2: Irrigation Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation How irrigation helps pearl millet crop? Allows efficient use of inputs Increases yield Improves quality of grain Improves reliability and reduces risk Increases profitability

5. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Lesson 2: Irrigation Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Adequate soil moisture at sowing helps assure uniform stands and contributes to early plant growth. Pre-plant irrigation can supply this moisture when early rains do not fill the root zone prior to planting.

6. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Lesson 2: Irrigation Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Allowing seed to remain in dry soil for several days may result in poor germination and seedling vigour. So, irrigation prior to sowing is recommended if water is available.

7. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Lesson 2: Irrigation Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Whether irrigating before or after planting, apply no more water than required to fill the effective root zone. Encourage deep rooting by maintaining only moderate soil moisture levels during early vegetative growth.

8. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Lesson 2: Irrigation Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Moderate plant moisture stress during early vegetative growth normally does not significantly limit grain yield. Little is known about pearl millet response to irrigation during growth. It appears that pearl millet responds less to irrigation than other grain crops. Greatest water use occurs during the flowering and soft dough stages.

9. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Lesson 2: Irrigation Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Irrigation intervals and the amount of water to apply is determined by: rainfall soil's water-holding characteristics plant rooting depth and other climatic conditions like air temperature etc.

10. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Lesson 2: Irrigation Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation The visible signs for irrigating the crop or the moisture requirement of crop are: drooping and withering of leaves during morning period, leaves feel some what warm during noon instead of cool, and cracking of the soil surface in the field. Plan irrigations to provide adequate soil moisture during these high water requirement periods.

11. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Lesson 2: Irrigation Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Drought Contingency Plan For Rainy Season Crop: Conserve in situ rainwater by deep ploughing during summer on heavy soils of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and eastern-Rajasthan. Use wider row spacing of 60 cm where rainfall is less than 400 mm.

12. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Lesson 2: Irrigation Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Drought Contingency Plan For Rainy Season Crop: Adopt suitable intercropping system. (Please review Lesson 2 in Module VII) Select early maturing hybrids/ composites of pearl millet under late onset of monsoon. (Please review for suitable cultivars for drought situation Lesson 2 in Module VIII) Keep the crop weed-free by timely weeding.

13. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Lesson 2: Irrigation Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Drought Contingency Plan For Rainy Season Crop: If dry spell occurs immediately after sowing, replant pearl millet in between the existing rows or relay cropping may be practiced using short duration oilseeds/pulse crops. Under normal onset of monsoon and occurrence of prolonged dry spell during grand growth period of the crop, reduce plant population to the extent of 25 to 40%.

14. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Lesson 2: Irrigation Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation Drought Contingency Plan For Rainy Season crop: If drought prevails for 2-3 weeks during pre-flowering to grain setting stage, one life saving irrigation may be given if water is available.

15. The Lesson 2 on irrigation in pearl millet cultivation, and also this Module X concludes. If you would like to check your understanding about soil moisture relationships and irrigation in pearl millet cultivation, please click on the “Exercise” button given above. Next, Module XI provides information about harvesting and storing of pearl millet. Select Module XI from Course contents Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Module X: Soil Moisture Relationships and Irrigation