This study conducted in a North Indian community development block is concerned with the adoption of nitrogenous fertilizers by farmers as related to (1) some of their socioeconomic characteristics, and (2) use of information sources and communication channels at different stages in the adoption process. The main objectives were: (a) to assess the importance of selected factors in predicting the adoption behavior of farmers; (b) to find the association between use of information sources and the stages in the adoption process; and (c) to identify the main characteristics of informal agricultural leaders. The findings of the study indicated that differential adoption of nitrogenous fertilizers could not be explained by family differences with respect to age, caste, religious affiliation, type, size, number of adult male workers or land tenure status. However, the level of adoption was found to correlate positively and significantly with per capita income, size of farm, level of living, education, irrigation resources, formal social participation, urban contact, information exposure, and informal agricultural leadership. The findings indicated that reorientation of farmers' knowledge and attitudes through extension educational methods and approach and organized group efforts should form the core of an action program. (Author/PT)