AbstractSince liquid anhydrous ammonia (LAA) is a major N fertilizer, information was sought about the proportions of LAA that enter into various combinations in soils. Liquid anhydrous NH3, labeled with 15N was injected into three soils (Drummer, Typic Haplaquoll; Blount, Aeric Ochraqualf; Cisne, Mollic Albaqualf) in the laboratory at a rate equivalent to a field application of 206 kg N ha−1 in 76.2 cm knife‐spacings. At 1, 7, 14, 28, 56, and 112 d after application, fertilizer N present in different soil fractions was determined in five concentric zones with radii of 0 to 1.5, 1.5 to 3.0, 3.0 to 4.5, 4.5 to 6.0, and 6.0 to 7.0 cm around the point of application. Depending on the soil, from 68 to 83% of the applied 15N was accounted for as (exchangeable NH+4 + NO‐3 + NO‐2)‐N by the 112th day following application, the remainder being accounted for as clay‐fixed NH+4 (1.9‐4.9%), organic matter‐fixed NH3 (4.0‐6.0%), and biologically immobilized organic N (3.9‐9.3%). From 50 to 70% of the organic matter‐fixed NH3‐N was released by hydrolysis with dilute KOH solution as compared to 10 to 15% for the immobilized N. Total recovery of 15N at 112 d ranged from 77% for the Cisne soil to about 97% for the Drummer and Blount soils. Lateral distributions and transformations of NH+4 and NO‐3 and pH trends after LAA applications were similar to those reported by previous investigators.