Nitrogen is a key input for kharif crops such as rice, maize, cotton and fodder, but is highly prone to losses through leaching, volatilization and runoff. Excessive reliance on chemical fertilizers has degraded soil health, polluted groundwater and raised cultivation costs, a concern sharpened by the ongoing fertilizer supply disruption in India. Drawing on Punjab Agricultural University recommendations, this article outlines integrated nitrogen management through organic amendments - farmyard manure, poultry manure, pressmud, gobar gas slurry, green manures, crop residues and prali char - combined with need-based fertilizer use guided by the Leaf Colour Chart. These practices can save 16-25 kg nitrogen per acre while improving soil organic carbon, structure and microbial activity, offering a practical path to profitable and sustainable kharif crop production.