The phosphorus value on a soil test report indicates what?

• A. It measures potassium availability.
• B. It measures soil texture.
• C. It measures the phosphorus readily available to plants.
• D. It measures soil pH.

Answer: (C)

Phosphorus value on a soil test report represents the amount of phosphorus that is readily available for plant uptake in that soil. Soil tests estimate the plant-available portion of phosphorus using chemical extracts, which reflects how much P roots can access under current soil conditions. This information helps determine how much phosphorus fertilizer to apply to meet crop needs. It doesn’t measure potassium availability, soil texture, or soil pH, which are separate aspects of soil properties.