A four year study was planned and initiated in the fall of 1988 on a soil (Typic Pelloxerert) with a Bray‐Kurtz P1 of 8 mg/kg and a 2:1 water:soil pH of 5.2. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium Perenne L.) was seeded in 30.4 cm rows with P surface banded and broadcast at four rates (0, 26.5, 53 and 79.5 kg/ha) on limed (4.5 t/ha) and unlimed plots. Each plot was sampled at four intensities; 5, 10, 20 and 40 cores to a 0 to 15 cm depth. An additional sample from 0 to 2.5 cm was obtained for the 40 core intensity. A 6.1 m by 2.4 m area with lines every 30.4 cm was delineated and superimposed on each plot. For each plot the same spot for the 5, 10, 20 and 40 intensities were used and samples analyzed for P and pH. Where P was banded, an additional sample was taken with 50% of the cores in the band. No discernible differences were measured between banded and broadcast P in sampling error or P means.