Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Module 11: Harvesting and storing

Course on Pearl Millet ProductionPractices

After completing one Lesson in this Module, you have learned to:

• Identify the right stage for harvesting pearl millet crop.

• Recognize the importance of proper drying of pearl millet after harvesting the crop.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Course on Pearl Millet ProductionPractices

Module XI: Harvesting and Storing

Pearl millet should be harvested as early as possible to minimize losses due to birds, and bad weather.

Mature grain pearl millet in the field contains about 30% moisture.

At moisture levels higher than 25%, the seeds are too soft to withstand the threshing action.

The ideal moisture content for harvesting grain pearl millet is about 20%.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Course on Pearl Millet ProductionPractices

Module XI: Harvesting and Storing

Thin stems, heavy panicles, and profuse tillering may result in lodging of the plants.

The seeds in the panicles of lodged plants germinate in the moist field and thus affect grain yield and quality.

Hence, the plants are tied together to keep the plants standing.

Tying of plants

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Course on Pearl Millet ProductionPractices

Module XI: Harvesting and Storing

Most standability concerns develop when farmers leave pearl millet in the field until grain moisture is below 14%.

Harvesting at 20% moisture or less prevents a significant amount of standability problems.

Pearl millet standability

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Course on Pearl Millet ProductionPractices

Module XI: Harvesting and Storing

The best stage to harvest pearl millet is when the plants reach the physiological maturity.

Physiological maturity can be determined by the black (dark) spot at the bottom of the grain.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Course on Pearl Millet ProductionPractices

Module XI: Harvesting and Storing

When the crop matures the leaves turn yellow and present a dried up appearance.

The grains are hard and firm.

The usual practice of harvesting pearl millet is cutting the ear-heads first and the stalks later.

The stalks (straw) are cut after a week, allowed to dry and then stacked.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Course on Pearl Millet ProductionPractices

Module XI: Harvesting and Storing

The harvested earheads are dried before threshing.

The grain is separated from the earheads by using a mechanical thresher or by drawing a stone roller over the ear-heads or trampling under the feet of cattle.

The separated grain is then cleaned by winnowing (Fig.) and dried.

Winnowing

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Course on Pearl Millet ProductionPractices

Module XI: Harvesting and Storing

Conventional grain dryers or, natural air drying are options for drying the grain.

Grain at or below 14% moisture is considered dry.

For long-term storage (more than 6 months), grain moisture content should not be more than 13.5%.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Course on Pearl Millet ProductionPractices

Module XI: Harvesting and Storing

Pearl millet grain is stored traditionally in mud bins or straw bins or bamboo bins or in metal bins.

Mud bin

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Course on Pearl Millet ProductionPractices

Module XI: Harvesting and Storing

The storage structures in rural areas are not ideal from scientific-storage point of view, as substantial losses occur during storage of grain from insect pests, moulds, rodents, etc.

Bamboo bin

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Course on Pearl Millet ProductionPractices

Module XI: Harvesting and Storing

Keeping the requirements of the farmers in view, the Indian Grain Storage Institute (IGSI), Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, with its branches at Ludhiana and Hyderabad, India, have developed several metal bins of different capacities for scientific storage of grain in rural areas.

Metal bin

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Course on Pearl Millet ProductionPractices

Module XI: Harvesting and Storing

“Pusa” bin

With this, Module XI on Harvesting and Storing of pearl millet, and also this Course concludes.

If you would like to check your understanding about harvesting pearl millet, please click on the “Exercise” button in Module XI contents.

To review any Module in this course, select the Module from Course contents.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Module XI: Harvesting and Storing

Course on Pearl Millet ProductionPractices