Questions: What effect does sheep grazing have on the nutrient budgets of heathlands? Can grazing compensate for atmospheric nutrient loads in heathland ecosystems? What are the conclusions for heathland management? Location: Lüneburg Heath, NW Germany. Methods: During a one-year grazing experiment (stocking rate 1.1 sheep/ha) nutrient balances for N, Ca, K, Mg and P were calculated by quantifying input rates (atmospheric deposition, sheep excrement) and output rates (biomass removal, leaching). Results: Atmospheric nutrient deposition amounted to 22.8 kg.ha1.a1 for N and <0.2 kg.ha1.a1 for P. Sheep excrement increased the inputs for N and P by ca. 3.5 and 0.2 kg.ha1.a1, respectively. Grazing reduced N- and P-stores in the above-ground biomass by 25.6 and 1.9 kg.ha1.a1, respectively ...