The objectives of this study were to establish the amount of soil acidification caused by nitrogen fertilizer; and to ascertain whether banding, “nest” placement, or using nitrification inhibitors lessened the effect. Field experiments were placed at 10 sites and were conducted for 1 or 3 years. Barley was grown after annual fertilizer application, and in the fall the crop was harvested, the soil cultivated and the soil sampled. The main experiment was at 3 sites: a Gray Luvisol, a Dark Brown Solod and a Black Chernozem. Fertilizers were ammonium nitrate (A.N.), ammonium sulphate (A.S.) or urea. Soil pH (0–15 cm depth) was lowered 0.2 to 0.3 units after 3 years on the Luvisol with the annual rate of 67 kg N/ha A.N. or urea. The effect was greater with A.S. The 202 kg N/ha rate resulted in marked pH depression with incorporation of A.S. or urea on soils (average pH reduction of 0.9 and 0.5 units, respectively). Banding resulted in only half as much pH depression. In the second experiment 56 kg N/ha of urea were applied annually at 2 sites. By the third year, soil pH was decreased by incorporated urea (only 0.1 to 0.2 units) but the band effect was not significant. A final year‐long experiment was conducted at 8 sites with 56 kg N/ha of urea, and on the average soil pH was decreased by 0.13 units with incorporated urea. In some instances, the decrease was nearly overcome by banding, nests (2.5 g of urea placed at points), or nitrification inhibitors. Considering all the experiments, soil acidification was slowed by more than half with banding, nesting or nitrification inhibitors as compared to incorporation.