NIGER BASIC

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Introduction
Niger crop is grown for seed used for extracting oil which is about 37 to 43 per cent of the seed weight. The oil is used for culinary purposes, for anointing the body, for manufacturing paints and soft soaps, for lighting and lubrication and for manufacturing cosmetics. The oilcake is a well-known cattle feed. The crop sheds a large quantity of dry leaves in the field and thereby adds organic matter to the soil.
 
Area of Cultivation
India is considered to be the chief niger-producing country in the world. Niger is mainly grown in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu.
 
Season
Niger is grown as a kharif crop under rainfall conditions, A moderate rainfall of 1,000-1,250 mm suits this crop and, as such, it is not cultivated in regions of heavy rainfall. The crop is sown from June to August
 
Soil
Light red soils and brownish loams with sufficient depth and good texture are considered suitable for the niger crop. It is often grown on poor soils of coarse texture. It can be grown on well-drained heavy soils.
 
Cultivation
Niger is grown either as a pure crop or is grown mixed with minor millets. Two to three ploughing are enough to prepare the land for sowing. The field is made weed-free and leveled by planking before sowing.
 
Sowing
The crop is sown either behind a country-plough or with a four-coultered drill. A spacing of 30 cm between lines and that of 10-15 cm between plants in the line are generally adopted. A seed-rate of 7-8 kg per hectare is adequate to maintain a good crop-stand as a pure crop. About a fortnight after sowing, thinning is done to regulate spacing between plants. One or two hoeing is required for controlling weeds.
 
Fertilizer Management
In general, the niger crop is not manured. But the application of 20 kg of N and P2O5 per hectare is recommended for obtaining higher yields of the crop. When sown as a mixed crop, niger shares the manuring given to the main crop.
 
Harvesting
The crop matures in November and December. The mature plants are cut with sickles at the base and heaped in the threshing-yard for a week. They are then spread in the sun to dry for two to three days, threshed by beating with sticks, and winnowed.