The root growth of an Al sensitive barley (Hordeum vulgareL.) was used to evaluate the influence of surface applied amendments on the properties of an acid subsoil. Soil columns were packed with 10 cm of A horizon over 45 cm of an acidic Bt horizon from a Gilpin silt loam. Prior to planting of the barley the columns received surface treatments of dolomitic lime (8.4 Mg.ha‐1), hog manure (44.8 Mg.ha‐1) with and without lime, cow manure (44.8 Mg.ha‐1) with and without lime, gypsum (14.6 Mg.ha‐1), and EDTA (5.1 Mg.ha‐1) with lime. The columns were leached twice weekly over a 6 week period with 5 cm additions of water.