Nitrogen was applied as ammonium nitrate in solution to kikuyu pasture at 225 kg N ha‐1, split into three equal dressings and applied in October, December and February. The first, at 75 kg N ha‐1was labelled in the ammonium ion and the latter two dressings were not labelled. Herbage, soil and roots were sampled monthly to determine the proportions of the labelled N in the herbage, root and soil over the season. Total15N recovered over the season, as a percentage of that applied as15NH4NO3, was 99.0%. A total of 52.1% of the labelled N was recovered in the herbage over the season, the highest recovery being in November. Recovery rates declined from November through to March. However, the accumulated recovery of15N was curvilinear over the season. The recovery rate of15N in the roots was lower than in the herbage, and the highest percentage recovered was in December. The15N recovered, as a percentage of that applied, in the soil depth classes showed similar trends. The highest percentage ofI5N was recovered in the 0–300 mm depth class and the lowest in the 600–1000 mm depth class. Leaching of15N, although minimal, did occur over the season.