Pearl millet

Perlhirsen inventory

Pearl millet ( Pennisetum glaucum ), and cattail millet, foxtail millet grass or brush called, is a cereal crop and from the family of grasses ( Poaceae ).

Description

Pearl millet is an annual Ährenrispengras with a corn -like growth. It reaches stature heights of 3 to 4 meters, and blades have a diameter of 10 to 20 mm. The approximately 8 cm long leaves are dark green. The roots go down to a depth of 360 cm, which extends the main root horizon (80 % of the root mass ) on the top 10 cm.

It produces long on the main shoots 10 to 60 cm on side shoots slightly shorter, reminiscent of cattail inflorescences from 1.5 to 4.5 cm in diameter. The ears spindles bear numerous short panicle with spikelets zweiblütigen. At the spikelets male flowers are formed below, above female. The fruit stand is compact, cylindrical and carries 1,000 to 3,000 grains. These have a diameter of up to 5 mm and are depending on the variety white, yellow, red or black in color.

The pollen is transferred from the wind. Diploid set of chromosomes: 2n = 14

In addition to newer breeds, there are numerous landraces of pearl millet. There are also hybrids of pearl millet with other Pennisetum species.

Dissemination

Pearl millet is native to tropical Africa and has been cultivated there as early as 3000 years ago. From their homelands, it was spread over Arabia to India and Burma as a crop and is now in the dry tropics preferably at altitudes between 800 to 1800 m above sea level. grown.

Location

Pearl millet prefers sandy or silty soils that are well aerated. The plant can also grow on poor soils, is salt tolerant and grows well on very acid soils. High ground water levels by about Überstauung will not endure, but longer lasting dryness. It can be grown in areas with an annual rainfall 125-900 mm, the optimum is above 500 mm.

Pearl millet has a high light requirement, shadow inhibits the growth strong.

Cultivation and uses

Pearl millet is considered the cereal with the highest drought resistance. The seeds are spread and incorporated into tilled. The bottom cover is from 10 to 50 mm, the optimum is between 35 and 40 mm deep.

Because of the great drought resistance Pearl millet still provides 180 mm of rainfall harvesting 2-10 t / ha, with higher rainfall or irrigation can be up to 30 dt / ha to achieve.

Besides the use as grain cereals pearl millet is also grown for animal feed and fed to cattle. In addition, it is grown for ground installation in some areas because of the deep and the surface -locking root system, where it is sown densely than for agricultural production. In India, a combination of pearl millet and pigeonpea ( Cajanus cajan ) is used to avoid erosion damage in many cases.

Ingredients

The grains have per 100 g edible portion of an average salary:

The calorific value is 1585 kJ or 380 kcal. The protein content is strongly dependent on the age of the grains and is highest in young seeds. Young pearl millet is very tasty also because of their ingredients.

Plant Diseases and Plant Protection

One of the most important plant diseases is the leaf spot disease caused by fungi of the genus Helminthosporium, Cercospora and others. In addition, the plant is attacked by mildew fungi.

In the African growing regions root cause parasites of the genus Striga, Striga hermonthica in particular, to a lesser extent Striga lutea, major damage to pearl millet as well as to other cereals. Red-billed weavers who eat grains, fall partially into the stocks and can cause crop failures. The two species of butterfly cotton bollworm ( Heliothis armigera ) and Coniesta ignefusalis (English " Millet stem borer " ) can also cause major damage to crops.

Preparations

In the pearl millet growing areas serves as a rice substitute, used for baking flat breads as well as for the production of millet porridge and beer.

Name

• Synonyms: Pennisetum typhoid ( Burm. f ) Stapf & CEHubb, Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke subsp.. americanum, Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke, typhoideum Pennisetum Rich., Setaria glauca (L.) P.Beauv. , Pennisetum typhoidis LCRich.
• Arabic: Duhun, Dukhon ( Africa - Sudan).
• Bamanakan: Souna.
• English: Pearl millet, pigeon grass Pale ( Austr ), bulrush millet ( Austr ), cattail millet, African millet, millet Candle, Yellow bristle grass (Ireland), Yellow fox tail, Short millet.
• French: Millet à chandelle, perlé Millet, Millet pénicillaire, Pénicillaire, Mil à chandelle, africain Millet, Millet d' Afrique, petit mil, Sétaire glauque (Belgium ).
• Hindi: Bajra
• Italian: Miglio africano, Miglio perla, Miglio perlato.
• Oshivambo: Mahangu, Omahangu
• Kimbundu: Masambala
• Portuguese: Milhete, milho africano, milho miúdo, Painço, Peniseto, Bajra, Mexoeira.
• Spanish: Mijo negro, Mijo perla, Mijo candela, Panizo negro, Pasto italiano (Uruguay ).
• Swahili: Mawele, Uwele.