The effects of organic and inorganic farming practices on the performance of sorghum were studied in Rahuri, Maharashtra, India, during the rabi season of 2007-08. The treatments consisted of: (T1) farmyard manure (FYM; 10 t/ha); (T2) dhaincha [ Sesbania aculeata] green manure at 10 t/ha; (T3) 75% of the recommended NPK fertilizer rates (RFR) + 3 t FYM/ha + Azospirillum + PSB [phosphate solubilizing bacteria]; (T4) 100% RFR (100:50:50 kg NPK/ha); (T5) farmers' practice (10 kg N + 3 t FYM/ha); and (T6) soyabean-rabi sorghum rotation. T1, T2 and T3 induced early flowering, whereas T4 delayed flowering. T3 resulted in the highest 100-seed weight (35.80 g), grain yield (29.24 quintal/ha), fodder yield (53.14 quintal/ha), and benefit-cost ratio (2.17). The results indicated that the amount of inorganic fertilizers can be reduced by 25% using organic fertilizers as substitutes. [1.0 quintal=100.0 kg].
