Keywords: Nitrogen losses, Arable fertilisers, Manure.

This paper deals primarily with the use and loss of nitrogen in agriculture.

It comprises comments on the various risks and a discussion of the prospects of a reduction.

The minimum loss per produced unit will be achieved by applying fertilisers according to the needs of the crops and by keeping the plants healthy in order to obtain the yield pursued.

The conclusion mentions the methods of action to be applied with a view to combining profitable agricultural production with environmental protection.

C Aa Pedersen, The Danish Agricultural Advisory Centre, Udkaersvej 15, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.

24 pages, 10 figures, 3 pages, 30 references.