The different ratios of organic to inorganic nitrogen of organic fertilizers affect the nitrate dynamics in soil as well as the yield of crops. To examine this, winter wheat was cultivated on loess in Therwil near Basel (Switzerland). The plots were amended with stacked, composted and rotted manure, garden waste compost, slurry or mineral fertilizer (mineral control). In additional treatments, a top dressing with slurry was applied. Nitrate concentration in soil water was measured with ceramic cups. The N uptake of winter wheat was determined at three growing stages: tillering, flowering and at harvest.