Foxtail Millet: How will the farmers of Bihar benefit from the advanced cultivation of Kangni crop, how to sow? Know full information

Foxtail Millet: Kangni may not be as popular as Ragi, Jowar and Bajra, but its nutritional and medicinal properties are no less than them. Now gradually people are also becoming aware of this coarse grain and farmers are getting motivated to cultivate it.

Advanced cultivation of Kangni crop

Kangni, also known as Tangun and Kauni and is also very beneficial for health. It can also be used as green fodder. Its plant is like grass, whose height is 4-7 feet and its seeds are very fine i.e. about 2 millimeters. Kangni is also called Foxtail Millet.

Kangni is mainly cultivated in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Small and marginal farmers in Bihar are also now growing local varieties of Kangni. It is being cultivated in Samastipur, Sitamarhi, Jamui, Sehore, Muzaffarpur, Kaimur districts of Bihar. Agricultural scientists believe that it is important for the farmers of Bihar to know the advanced technology of its cultivation to earn more profit from Kangni cultivation.

Soil and climate for advanced cultivation of Kangni crop

Kangni can be easily grown in dry and semi-arid areas. It also has the ability to tolerate drought, so it can be cultivated even in barren land. Its cultivation in Bihar requires 122 mm of annual rainfall, so it is mostly cultivated in the upper areas. Although Kangni can be grown in all types of soil, but its yield is good in sandy loam soil with good drainage. For cultivation in Bihar, the pH value of the soil should be 7.5 to 8.3.

Sowing and field preparation for advanced cultivation of Kangni crop

It is necessary to make the field weed-free before sowing. Then plow with a soil turning plow, after that plow two to three times with a desi plow or harrow, so that the soil becomes friable. Then level the field by running a pata and prepare it for sowing. The best time for sowing is from mid-June to mid-July. It is sown in rows for which 10 kg of seeds are required per hectare. There should be a distance of 25 cm × 10 cm between the rows and the seeds should be sown at a depth of 2-3 cm.

Manure and fertilizers for improved cultivation of Kangni crop

For a good Kangni crop, it is advisable to use fertilizers based on soil testing. About 30 days before sowing, apply cow dung manure at the rate of 6 tonnes/hectare. To earn more profit, it is advisable to use 40:20:20 N:P2O5:K2O at the rate of kg/hectare. The full quantity of phosphorus, potassium and half the quantity of nitrogen should be applied at the time of sowing and the remaining 50 percent nitrogen should be applied in two equal parts, i.e. 25 percent at the time of sprouting of shoots and the remaining 25 percent at the time of flowering. Nitr

Weed control for improved cultivation of Kangni crop

Kangni crop generally does not require irrigation, because it is grown in the Kharif season, but if there is a complete drought, then one irrigation should be done. But yes, weed control is necessary in this crop. The first weeding should be done 15-20 days after sowing and the second after 30-35 days by hand.

Inter-cropping system for advanced cultivation of Kangni crop

The use of inter-cropping system is beneficial in Kangni cultivation in Bihar. It includes Kangni + green gram, Kangni + soybean, Kangni + red gram. This improves the fertility of the soil.

Harvesting of Kangni crop

When the Kangni ears change from green to yellowish brown, then the crop is ready for harvesting. Only the ears or the entire plant can be cut from the Kangni plant after ripening. Usually the crop is ready 80-90 days after sowing. If it is cultivated properly, 20-25 quintals of grain and 40-50 quintals of green fodder are obtained per hectare.

Varieties for improved cultivation of Kangni crop

The improved varieties of Kangni mentioned by scientists in Bihar are Rajendra Kauni 1, Suryanandi (Siya 3088), Siya 3156, Siya 3085 and Pant Setriya 4.

Nutritional value in Kangni

Kangni can be cooked and eaten like rice or rotis can also be made from its flour. Apart from this, kheer, idli, porridge, sweet biscuits etc. are made from it. It is very nutritious, 100 grams of its grain contains 6-8 grams of fibre, 12.3 grams of protein, 60.9 grams of carbohydrate, 4.3 grams of fat, 31 milligrams of calcium, 2.8 milligrams of iron and 331 calories.