diff --git a/hamocc/mo_read_ndep.F90 b/hamocc/mo_read_ndep.F90
index 723e2c24..d953a7b9 100644
--- a/hamocc/mo_read_ndep.F90
+++ b/hamocc/mo_read_ndep.F90
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ module mo_read_ndep
   public :: ndepfile
 
   character(len=512)  :: ndepfile=''
-  real,  allocatable  :: ndepread(:,:)
   real,  allocatable  :: noydepread(:,:)
   real,  allocatable  :: nhxdepread(:,:)
   integer             :: startyear,endyear
@@ -96,7 +95,7 @@ subroutine ini_read_ndep(kpie,kpje)
       endif
       return
     endif
-    if (do_ndep_coupled) then
+    if (do_ndep_coupled .and. use_extNcycle) then
       if (mnproc.eq.1) then
         write(io_stdo_bgc,*) ''
         write(io_stdo_bgc,*) 'ini_read_ndep: N deposition in interactive mode.'
@@ -123,36 +122,24 @@ subroutine ini_read_ndep(kpie,kpje)
         stop '(ini_read_ndep)'
       endif
 
-      if (use_extNcycle) then
-        ! Allocate field to hold N-deposition fluxes
-        if (mnproc.eq.1) then
-          write(io_stdo_bgc,*)'Memory allocation for variable nhxdepread ...'
-          write(io_stdo_bgc,*)'First dimension    : ',kpie
-          write(io_stdo_bgc,*)'Second dimension   : ',kpje
-        endif
-        allocate (nhxdepread(kpie,kpje),stat=errstat)
-        if(errstat.ne.0) stop 'not enough memory nhxdepread'
-        nhxdepread(:,:) = 0.0
+      ! Allocate fields to hold N-deposition fluxes
+      if (mnproc.eq.1) then
+        write(io_stdo_bgc,*)'Memory allocation for variable nhxdepread ...'
+        write(io_stdo_bgc,*)'First dimension    : ',kpie
+        write(io_stdo_bgc,*)'Second dimension   : ',kpje
+      endif
+      allocate (nhxdepread(kpie,kpje),stat=errstat)
+      if(errstat.ne.0) stop 'not enough memory nhxdepread'
+      nhxdepread(:,:) = 0.0
 
-        if (mnproc.eq.1) then
-          write(io_stdo_bgc,*)'Memory allocation for variable noydepread ...'
-          write(io_stdo_bgc,*)'First dimension    : ',kpie
-          write(io_stdo_bgc,*)'Second dimension   : ',kpje
-        endif
-        allocate (noydepread(kpie,kpje),stat=errstat)
-        if(errstat.ne.0) stop 'not enough memory noydepread'
-        noydepread(:,:) = 0.0
-      else
-        ! Allocate field to hold N-deposition fluxes
-        if (mnproc.eq.1) then
-          write(io_stdo_bgc,*)'Memory allocation for variable ndepread ...'
-          write(io_stdo_bgc,*)'First dimension    : ',kpie
-          write(io_stdo_bgc,*)'Second dimension   : ',kpje
-        endif
-        allocate (ndepread(kpie,kpje),stat=errstat)
-        if(errstat.ne.0) stop 'not enough memory ndep'
-        ndepread(:,:) = 0.0
+      if (mnproc.eq.1) then
+        write(io_stdo_bgc,*)'Memory allocation for variable noydepread ...'
+        write(io_stdo_bgc,*)'First dimension    : ',kpie
+        write(io_stdo_bgc,*)'Second dimension   : ',kpje
       endif
+      allocate (noydepread(kpie,kpje),stat=errstat)
+      if(errstat.ne.0) stop 'not enough memory noydepread'
+      noydepread(:,:) = 0.0
 
       ! read start and end year of n-deposition file
       call ncfopn(trim(ndepfile),'r',' ',1,iotype)
@@ -237,15 +224,12 @@ subroutine get_ndep(kpie,kpje,kbnd,kplyear,kplmon,omask,ndep,patmnhxdep,patmnoyd
       if (kplmon.ne.oldmonth) then
         month_in_file=(max(startyear,min(endyear,kplyear))-startyear)*12+kplmon
         if (mnproc.eq.1) then
-          write(io_stdo_bgc,*) 'Read N deposition month ',month_in_file,' from file ',trim(ndepfile)
+          write(io_stdo_bgc,*) 'Read NHx and NOy deposition month ',                               &
+                              & month_in_file,' from file ',trim(ndepfile)
         endif
         ncstat=nf90_open(trim(ndepfile),nf90_nowrite,ncid)
-        if (use_extNcycle) then
-          call read_netcdf_var(ncid,'nhxdep',nhxdepread,1,month_in_file,0)
-          call read_netcdf_var(ncid,'noydep',noydepread,1,month_in_file,0)
-        else
-          call read_netcdf_var(ncid,'ndep',ndepread,1,month_in_file,0)
-        endif
+        call read_netcdf_var(ncid,'nhxdep',nhxdepread,1,month_in_file,0)
+        call read_netcdf_var(ncid,'noydep',noydepread,1,month_in_file,0)
         ncstat=nf90_close(ncid)
         oldmonth=kplmon
       endif
@@ -255,10 +239,12 @@ subroutine get_ndep(kpie,kpje,kbnd,kplyear,kplmon,omask,ndep,patmnhxdep,patmnoyd
       do  j=1,kpje
         do  i=1,kpie
           if (use_extNcycle) then
+            ! Separation between reduced and oxidized N species (NHx and NOy)
             ndep(i,j,idepnoy) = noydepread(i,j)
             ndep(i,j,idepnhx) = nhxdepread(i,j)
           else
-            ndep(i,j,idepnoy) = ndepread(i,j)
+            ! Reduced and oxidized forms will all enter the NO3 pool
+            ndep(i,j,idepnoy) = nhxdepread(i,j) + noydepread(i,j)
           endif
         enddo
       enddo