The volume of soil treated with P fertilizer affects P uptake by the crop. Earlier studies have shown that the stimulation of root growth in P‐fertilized soil was similar for both corn (Zea maysL.) and soybean (Glycine maxL. Merr). The objective of this research was to determine the effect of fertilizer P placement on P uptake and shoot and root growth of spring wheat (Triticum vulgareL.). Wheat was grown for 34 days in Raub silt loam (Aquic Argiudolls) in a controlled climate chamber. One rate of phosphate per pot, 150 mg P per three kg of soil, was mixed with 2, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 100% of the soil in the pot. The P was equilibrated with moist soil for 5 days at 70°C followed by 21 days at 25° C before transplanting 8‐day‐old wheat plants into each 3 L pot. The P stimulation of root growth in the P‐treated soil was similar to that for corn and soybeans. The effect could be described by the equation y = x0.7where y is the fraction of the root system in the P‐fertilized soil where P is mixed with x fraction of the soil. The greatest P uptake and plant growth occurred when added P was mixed with 20% of the soil.