Optimizing Millet Nutrition and Yield Through Sustainable Fertilization and Soil Nutrition Practices

Millets, which are adopted to abiotic stresses, are an important source of food and nutrition in dry and semi-arid regions. They are still underestimated and generally viewed as food for underprivileged groups, limiting their widespread adoption despite their high-nutritional profile and climate readiness. However, soil health has deteriorated due to a continuous reliance on chemical fertilizers without organic inputs, resulting in multi-nutrient deficiencies and lower millet yields. To improve the sustainability of millet production, balanced fertilization is required to enhance nutrient management. Soil organic carbon (SOC), nutrient buffering capacity, and overall soil health can all benefit from integrated nutrient management (INM), which includes organic amendments and biofertilizers. Climate-smart approaches, including nanofertilizers, site-specific nutrient management (SSNM), and precision fertilization, all aim to increase nutrient use efficiency while minimizing negative environmental impact. In the meantime, incorrect assumptions about millet’s low nutrient requirements, insufficient extension services, and dangerous fertilizer supply chains impede the implementation of balanced fertilization. Despite improvements, challenges remain regarding developing millet-specific fertilizer, optimizing nutrient applications in different agro-ecological zones, and evaluating long-term effects on soil microorganisms and carbon sequestration. Future studies should include digital tools such as artificial intelligence and remote sensing to ensure correct nutrition regulation. As a result, this chapter covers various fertilization techniques, challenges, and potential future directions, emphasizing their importance for sustainable agriculture, food security, and climate resilience.