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The ability of light-textured soils to retain nutrients and water is small. In agriculture such soils pose a risk of nutrient leaching when amended with fertilizers. This study investigated the effects of the incorporation of activated carbon ( AC) into the soil to determine (i) if it would decrease leaching of major nutrient ions and (ii) if its effect on leaching is influenced by fertilizer use. Nitrate nitrogen ( NO3−-N), ammonium nitrogen ( NH4+-N), phosphorus ( P) and potassium ( K) leaching through two substrates (sandy loam soil ( S) and a sandy loam soil mixed with activated carbon ( S + AC), which were unfertilized ( NF or control) or fertilized with inorganic fertilizer ( F), pig slurry ( PS), pig slurry digestate ( PD) or sewage sludge digestate ( SD) was studied using mini-lysimeters. In soil enriched with AC mark K-835, water percolation and NO3−-N and P leaching were significantly reduced, and K leaching was increased. Ammonium nitrogen leaching was not influenced by the AC amendment. The impact of AC on NO3−-N and P leaching and water percolation did not change during the two-year period, from which it is concluded that AC mark K-835 prevents the leaching of NO3−-N and P and increases soil water retention ability, and thus it is beneficial for light-textured soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]