Current soil tests are based on single and multiple nutrient extractions with a wide range of chemical solutions. For most nutrients this approach provides an “index”; of plant availability, but it may not be accurate on specific soils or in certain regions. Major problems with chemical extraction soil testing cannot be solved because they are inherent in the approach. The Phytoavailability Soil Test (PST) is a simplified soil‐extraction methodology based on ion‐exchange‐resin extraction of nutrients from saturated paste soil samples. The need for drying and grinding soil samples is thus eliminated. PST provides a “universal”; extraction for all nutrients. It mimics nutrient accumulation in plants, thus providing a more theoretically accurate basis for soil testing. PST also provides a system which can be “standardized”; for use in all regions. Factors which influence the rate and amount of resin‐extracted nutrients, including type of resin, shape of resin bag, soil water content, microbial activity, and temperature are presented.