Nitrate concentration in water is a topic of pressing concern in many areas of Europe. This book is based on the proceedings of a meeting held in Brussels in 1987, and the aims of this meeting were to: provide an overview of the different methods developed in EEC countries to limit and, if possible, to reduce nitrate pollution due to agriculture; record the main steps of the nitrogen cycle by which it is possible to control nitrate availability in soil and to evaluate recent progress; and to highlight areas needing more research.