ML 365
A widely adapted medium-duration variety grown across several southern states, valued for stable yield, a non-lodging habit and easy threshing; a common choice for line sowing.
Quick facts
- Type
- Finger millet variety
- Season
- Kharif
- Maturity period
- About 110–120 days
- Seed rate
- About 5 kg/ha for the nursery of a transplanted crop; 8–10 kg/ha for line sowing
- Expected yield
- Around 28–38 q/ha; valued for stable, non-lodging performance
- Suitable soil
- Red loam and lateritic soils
- Release
- A widely adopted medium-duration finger-millet variety for the southern ragi belt
About this variety
ML 365 is a medium-duration finger-millet variety widely grown across the southern ragi belt — Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and parts of Maharashtra. It is valued less for a top yield figure than for consistency: stable performance across seasons and sites, a sturdy non-lodging plant, and an ear that threshes cleanly. It is a common choice where line sowing is used over a larger area.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timeNursery mid-June to mid-July; line-sown mid-June to July on adequate soil moisture
- Seed rateAbout 5 kg/ha for the nursery of a transplanted crop; 8–10 kg/ha for line sowing
- Spacing22.5–30 cm between rows, about 10 cm within the row
- Sowing methodLine sowing with a drill is common for ML 365; transplanting where the highest yield is wanted
- IrrigationMainly rainfed; protective irrigation at panicle initiation and grain filling where water is available
- Fertilizer50:40:25 kg N:P2O5:K2O per hectare with farmyard manure for a rainfed crop; nitrogen split basal and at tillering
- HarvestingAbout 110–120 days to maturity; the non-lodging habit makes machine or clean hand harvesting easier
Soil & climate
Soil
- Suitable soil
- Red loam and lateritic soils across the southern ragi belt
- pH
- 5.0–8.0
Climate
- Climate
- A dependable rainfed kharif type; its value is stability across a range of southern-plateau conditions
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
About 110–120 days
Expected yield
Around 28–38 q/ha; valued for stable, non-lodging performance
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
Management notes
- Standard blast precautions — treated seed, moderate nitrogen, a fungicide at boot-to-ear in humid weather
- The non-lodging habit lets it carry a slightly heavier crop without falling
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Stable, dependable yield across seasons and southern states
- Non-lodging, sturdy plant that stands to harvest
- Easy, clean threshing; suits line sowing over a larger area
Things to consider
- Only moderate blast resistance — GPU 67 is a better pick where blast is severe
- A steady rather than a top-yielding variety in a very favourable season
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Karnataka
- Andhra Pradesh
- Telangana
- Tamil Nadu
- Maharashtra
Frequently asked questions
Why is ML 365 popular for line sowing?
It combines a sturdy, non-lodging plant with stable yield across seasons and sites and an ear that threshes cleanly, which makes it forgiving in a drill-sown crop over a larger area where transplanting is not practical.
How long does ML 365 take to mature?
About 110–120 days from sowing.
Sourced from: ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research — finger millet varieties, ICAR — All India Coordinated Research Project on Small Millets. editorial policy.