Soil acidity is one property associated with decline in soil fertility and low productivity. One important cause of soil acidity is the use of acid-forming inorganic fertilizers. A field study was conducted to examine the development of soil acidity from long-term use of urea and its effects on selected soil properties and whether burning of stover on land ameliorated soil acidity. Nitrogen was applied as urea (46%N) at 0, 60, 120 and 180 kg N ha^-1 to maize grown on an Alfisol. Following 4 years of annual application of urea, the treated soil became more acid than the control plots with no added urea. The extent of soil acidification was significantly (p