These poor soils may be deficient in one or more trace elements, in which case yields of millets will be reduced. Millet succeeds better when sown after some crop which has been abundantly manured, than it does when sown immediately after an amelioration of undecomposed manure.
For pearl millet, sandy loams are best. Foxtail millet adapts to a very wide range of soil types including infertile ones. The good drainage is import for this type of millet.
While for finger millet, is not especially drought season-resistant but will give satisfactory yields when soils are moderately shallow.
A soil must be tilled to a great depth for its reception and ploughed three times, besides being harrowed, rolled and thoroughly freed from weeds.
Millet is in general very successful on newly drained land, provided that it is in good condition.
Intensive cultivation of sole millet on so fragile soils would deplete essential nutrients. The adverse effects of the system on soil fertility can be counteracted by intercropping with a legume that can fix substantial amounts of atmospheric nitrogen.
Suitable soil for cultivation of millet
