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Incubation studies were made, on the effects of adding copper compounds to soils on transformations involving nitrogen, in particular ammonification, nitrification and immobilisation. The copper compounds were added in different forms (copper sulphate, copper phosphate and copper oxide) and their effects on nitrogen changes were studied immediately after treatment and also after the copper compounds were allowed to react with moist soil for some time. The effects of copper compounds on nitrogen changes were studied in relation to soil type and pH, moisture content, and type of added nitrogen and organic matter. The fractionation of copper in soils treated with copper compounds were studied by extraction with a number of reagents. The contribution of organic and inorganic soil fractions to the fixation of copper and other trace elements was also studied. The relationship between levels of extractable copper and changes in the extent of transformations involving nitrogen during incubation were assessed.