EN
The study was performed in 1995-1997, to assess the effect of fertilisation with vermicompost produced from sewage sediments, on nitrogen balance and utilisation. Two fertiliser kinds were applied: 4 or 8 t ha⁻¹ vermicompost and ammonium nitrate (0, 50, 100, 150 kg N ha⁻¹ ). Vermicompost applied with ammonium nitrate had a positive influence on the utilisation of nitrogen. When there was insufficient rain the best combination was 4 t ha⁻¹ vermicompost plus 50 kg N as ammonium nitrate, whereas in the case of adequate rain, the 4 t ha⁻¹ vermiculite plus 150 kg N were best. An increase of the vermiculite dose to 8 t ha 1 deceased the utilisation of nitrogen, though it enhanced its balance. When the same dose nitrogen was applied as vermicompost or ammonium nitrate, the utilisation was better from the vermicompost. The yield and the nitrogen balance depended on the meteorological conditions and also on the fertiliser applied. In years of insufficient rain the nitrogen utilisation was lesser than in wet years. In all years of the experiment the utilisation of nitrogen from ammonium nitrate was enhanced by application of 4 t vermiculite per ha, at all levels of fertilisation. The increase of vermicompost to 8 t ha⁻¹ caused no further increase of N utilisation. Considering the amount of nitrogen supplied with the vermicompost it was found that the nitrogen supplied with the vermicompost it was found that the nitrogen balance was achieved at the 150 kg N ha⁻¹ dose in dry conditions and at 200 kg N ha⁻¹ at sufficient soil moisture.