IMPROVING SYNTHETIC FERTILIZER USE EFFICIENCY THROUGH BIO-FERTILIZER APPLICATION IN RICE

Abstract

Efficient plant nutrition management enhances and sustains agricultural production and safeguards the environment. The use of organic and inorganic fertilizer has its advantages and disadvantages in terms of nutrient supply, soil quality and crop growth. Developing a suitable nutrient management system that integrates use of these fertilizers may be a challenge to reach the goal of sustainable agriculture. An experiment to improve synthetic fertilizer efficiency through bio-fertilizer (BF) application in rice was conducted at the Agricultural Research Institute, Dera Ismail Khan, in 2009. The results showed that combination of bio-fertilizer, nitrogen and phosphorous (500: 120: 90 kg ha-1) exceeded all other treatments in number of tillers m-2, number of panicles m-2, number of spikelets panicles-1, percent normal kernels, 1000-grain weight (g) and paddy yield (t ha-1). The results also showed that bio-fertilizer along with different levels of nitrogen and phosphorous significantly increased the growth and yield components of rice crop. The use of bio-fertilizer along with N and P was found better than N and P alone. This study suggests that bio-fertilizer along with different levels of nitrogen and phosphorous (BF: 500 kg, N: 120 kg, P: 90 kg ha-1) should be used for maximizing rice productivity, reducing inputs of chemical fertilizers and sustaining soil fertility.