A field experiment using poor quality groundwaters was conducted at Nandagaon village of Mudhol taluk of Bagalkot district during kharif 2003 to study the effect of sub-surface drainage and amendments on osmotic potential and uptake nutrients by maize. Osmotic potential in maize leaves was lower in subsurface drainage than no drainage plots. The uptake of nutrients such as N, P, K, Ca and Mg was significantly higher in sub-surface drainage plots than no drainage plots.