Flax (Linum usitatissiumL.) was grown in field experiments over a five year period on a calcareous and a non‐calcareous Orthic chernozemic soil that were both low in NaHCO3extractable P. Six rates of P‐fertilizer as mono‐ammonium phosphate (MAP) were applied at seeding using four placement methods: 1. broadcast and cultivated 10 cm into the soil (BC); 2. banded in the seed row with the seed (PWS); 3. banded 2.5 cm below and 2.5 cm to the side of the seed (PSS); 4. banded 2.5 cm directly below the seed (PBS).