Ammonia volatilization from five soils, ranging in clay content from 7,6 to 49,9%, were determined after pH values of the soils were adjusted to 8,0. Ammonium sulphate, limestone ammonium nitrate, urea, monoammonium phosphate and diammonium phosphate were applied on the soil surface at levels equivalent to 0,15, 30, 60,120 and 240 kg N ha−1. After a contact period of three days ammonia losses were determined. Ammonia was lost from all soils under all treatments, losses increasing with increasing levels of application. Loss of ammonia from the various fertilizers was ranked as follows: LAN