Vol. 12, Issue 10 (2023)

Author(s):
Bikash Ranjan Rath, Asit Kumar Pal, Ipsita Pattanaik and Baishnabi Bhuyan

Abstract:
Millets are ancient cereals cultivated by humans, considered "cereals of the poor". They are small-seed crops cultivated for food and fodder purposes. They are the future crops well adapted to the harsh environment (soil and climate) of arid and semi-arid regions. They are nutritionally rich in carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They have superior micronutrient profile and bioactive flavonoids, low glycemic index, prevent diabetes, are a good source of iron, zinc, and calcium, gluten-free, can be consumed by celiac disease patients, prevent CVD and hyperlipidemia, reduce weight, high blood pressure, increases amino acids uptake, used for food, fodder and reduces carbon footprint. Finger millet is one of our country's most important millet crops, having the highest productivity among millets. But in our nation, its productivity has dropped significantly. Low soil fertility, poor methods of farming, and poor nutrient management are the main causes of low productivity. These millets are the sole crop that will handle critical challenges in the future such as fuel, feed, health, climate change, and India's growing malnutrition problem. So, for this, there is a need to improve production and productivity of millets and this can only be achieved through proper integrated nutrient management (INM) practices with the application of both organic and inorganic nutrient sources. The development and yield characteristics of finger millet were shown to be strongly impacted by INM. The advantages of using INM on finger millet have also been highlighted by numerous studies.