“P”s come in many forms.  Considering soil analysis and plant nutrition the abbreviation P stands for Phosphorous or should that be Phosphate?   Soil phosphorus (P) is the essential chemical element, vital for plant life, while phosphate (PO 4 ) refers to the specific ionic compound (e.g. orthophosphate) that plants absorb from soil solution for growth, often used interchangeably in fertiliser  talk but technically distinct.   Phosphorous exists in the soil in various forms,