In a long term fertilizer experiment set up in 1971 at the farm of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, studies were conducted on a Typic Haplustept with maize (Zea mays) - wheat (Triticum aestivum) - cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) cropping sequence. Apart from a control, treatments included optimal NPK level as recommended according to initial soil test values (100% NPK), 50% NPK and 150% NPK levels, 100% NP, 100% N, treatments involving 100% NPK with FYM (for maize only) and other nutrients. The effects of different treatments were investigated on soil properties, crop yields, nitrogen uptake by the crops and on apparent N recovery by the cropping sequence. Yield of maize, wheat and cowpea as well as nitrogen uptake by them were higher in plots treated with 100% NPK + FYM than others and were comparable with those under 150% NPK. Application of N alone, NP or 50%NPK led to lower yield levels of all the crops. There was a decline in the contents of available nutrients, except K, in plots, which received neither manure nor fertilizer. The long term application of 150% NPK resulted in improvement in organic carbon content as well as a build up of available P which were on par with 100% NPK + FYM treated plots. Nitrogen uptake by the cropping sequence as a whole varied from 111.2 kg ha-1 in control to 244.8 kg ha-1 in 100% NPK + FYM treatment. The apparent N recovery (ANR) by the cropping sequence as a whole highest (52.5%) under 50% NPK and was lowest (25.4%) with the use of 100% N alone.