Experiments were carried out on a slightly leached chernozem during l99I-1994. Four nitrogen rates in sunflower and five nitrogen rates in the coming winter wheat were investigated. The aim of the study was to find out relationships between nitrogen fertilization in the predecessor and in the coming winter wheat, as well as their effect on the yield formation of the cereal culture. It was established that the nitrogen fertilization in sunflowers had a significant influence on the grain yield of the coming winter wheat. The total nitrogen rates (previous + direct) correlated positively with the wheat grain yield. The highest coefficient of correlation was calculated when the theoretical total nitrogen rate contained l/3 of the previous and the direct rates.