Integrated usage of synthetic and bio-fertilizers: an environment friendly approach to improve the productivity of sorghum

Biofertilizers, a sustainable eco-friendly agricultural approach to crop improvement, are used to supplement chemical fertilizers mainly to maintain soil fertility. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of biological and chemical fertilizers on the growth and yield of sorghum at University Research Farm, Chakwal Road, Rawalpindi-Pakistan. Sorghum varieties viz; Johar and PARC-SS-2 were tested for biological and chemical fertilizers. All the treatments enhanced the growth, yield and quality attributes but maximum improvement was recorded by the combined application of chemical and biological fertilizers. Application of N @ 60 kg ha−1 + P @ 35 kg ha−1 + PSB @ 1.25 kg ha−1 + Biozote @ 1.25 kg ha−1 showed an increase of 12.45%, 78.11%, 34.4% and 25.38% in plant height, green fodder yield, grain yield and crude proteins over the control respectively. Results of current study are very promising regarding the combine use of chemical and bio-fertilizers to improve the productivity of sorghum crop.