Field investigations were conducted at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India, during 1980–81 and 1981–82 to study the influence of selective broad‐spectrum herbicides (isoproturon, metoxuron and methabenzthiazuron) applied post‐emergence in improving the utilization of applied nitrogen (40, 80, 120 and 160 kg N/ha).Phalaris minorRetz, was the dominant weed in the field. On average (mean of two crops), the herbicide treated crop gave 42.2% higher grain yields than the crop given two hand‐weedings (hoeing). Isoproturon and metoxuron were more effective than methabenzthiazuron. The interaction for nitrogen x weed control treatments was significant for both crop seasons. The isoproturon (0.94 kg/ha) and metoxuron (1.5 kg/ha) treated crop under N80gave significantly higher grain yield than the hand‐weeded crop given 120 and 160 kg N/ha during both crop seasons. Methabenzthiazuron (1.3 kg/ha) induced a similar response during 1980–81 only.