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Pennisetum glaucum

Authority	(L.) R.Br.
Family	Liliopsida:Commelinidae:Cyperales:Gramineae
Synonyms	Pennisetum americanum, Pennisetum spicatum, Pennisetum typhodes (Burm.) Stapf & C.E. Hubb., Pennisetum typhoideum Rich.
Common names	babala, bajra, bajri, bulrush millett, cat-tail millet, cattail millet, cumbu, dukn, mil a chandella, mil penicillaire, millet perle, negrito millet, panizo Bajra, pearl millett, petit millet, pijo perla, spiked millet
Editor
Ecocrop code	8418

Notes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION An erect, freely tillering, tufted grass and grain crop reaching a height of 0.5-4 m. The stem is solid and leaves up to 1 m long. USES The grain is cooked as rice, made into flour, or used to produce malt for beer. Whole grains are fed to poultry and livestock. The grain contain about 70% carbohydrate and 10% protein. Green plants provide fodder. Plant straw is used for bedding, thatching, fencing and fuel. GROWING PERIOD Summer annual. Early millets, requires 60-95 days of growing period, medium duration types, about 80 days, and long duration types, 100-120 days. COMMON NAMES Pearl millet, Bulrush millet, Dukn, Bajra, Babala, Spiked millet, Cat-tail millet, Cattail millet, Millet perle, Petit millet, Mijo perla, Panizo Bajra, Mil a chandella, Mil penicillaire. FURTHER INF Scientific synonyms, P. americanum, P. spicatum, P. typhoideum, P. typhoides. Pearl millet is probably indigenous to the western Sahel zone in African. In the tropics, it can be grown at altitude between sea level and 1800 m. It can be grown between 14-32°N and S. Pearl millet is the staple food in parts of tropical Africa and India, which are too hot, dry and sandy for sorghum production. Photosynthesis pathway C4 III. In Africa expected yields of grain are 0.25-1.0 t/ha, normally optimum yields are from 3.0-5.0 t/ha and experimental yields of up to 8 t/ha have been reported. When seedlings are established with fresh water and fertilizer applied, multiple irrigations with seawater can give yields of 1-1.6 t/ha of grain and 3.3-6.5 t/ha of fodder. Mentioned as a useful agroforestry species.
Sources
Grassland Index - In Ecocrop as synonym Pennisetum glaucum Grassland Index - Also in Ecocrop as synonym Pennisetum glaucum Skerman P 1990 pp 596-603 [TEMP, RAIN, DEP, DRA, TEXT, PH, SAL] Duke J 1975 pp 23 [PH, RAIN, TEMP] Duke J 1979 pp 95 [PH, RAIN, TEMP] Roecklein J 1987 pp 37 [USE] Bogdan A 1977 pp 216-222 [PHO, RAIN, TEXT, DRA, FER] Kernick M 1961 pp 196 Purseglove J 1972 pp 204-214 [RAIN, TEXT, TEMP, TEXT, DRA] Nair P 1980 pp 67-71 [RAIN, TEMP, TEXT, FER, DRA, USE] Goodin J 1990 pp 20 Onwueme I 1991 pp 191-199 [PHO, TEXT, DRA, RAIN, TEXT, FER] Janick J 1991 pp 198-208 [USE, KTMP] Landon J 1984 pp 299 [FER, RAIN, TEMP, DRA] Westphal E 1989 pp 217-220 [RAIN, TEMP, TEXT, PH, FER, DRA, SAL]