Eco-physiological Study of Finger Millet During Drought: Special Reference to Soil Moisture and Nutrients for Fallow Land Utilization

The study was envisaged to establish the adaptability of Finger millet (Eleusine coracana Gaertn L.) crop during dry season with prevalent high temperature, economic utilization of fallow lands with moderate moisture and nutrients. It has also recorded the response of the plants during its exposure to extreme environments. Finger millet can be grown in all seasons, kharif, rabi and zaid. The world wide production of the crop is 4.5 million tons of grain, and nearly half of the contribution is from African countries. Though considered as a dry land crop, it is cultivated in the receiving rain fall range of 50- 100cms per year. It can be raised both as irrigated and rain fed crop. Finger millet is considered superior to wheat as it contains high in starch and easily digestible proteins. It is a highest iron content grain with high levels of methionine, an amino acid lacking in the diets of hundreds of millions of people who depend on starchy foods, such as cassava. Dietary management with Finger millet can also controls diabetes. The grains are a very good source of calcium for growing children and aged people who need calcium supplement.