The objective of this investigation was to evaluate a new soil test extractant which would allow simultaneous extraction of several plant nutrients over a wide range of soil properties and eliminate the present need for grouping of soils. The new extractant is composed of 0.2N NH4Cl‐0.2N HOAc‐0.015N NH4F‐0.012N HCl at approximately pH 2.5. It was compared to Bray 1 (0.025N HCl‐0.03N NH4F), Olsen (0.5M NaHCO3, pH 8.5), DA (0.05N HC1–0.025N H2SO4), 0.075N HCl and DAP (DA + 0.008N NH4F) for extractable P. The uptake of P by millet grown in the greenhouse on six taxonomically different Ultisols at two rates of lime and six levels of P was correlated with the chemically extractable P. In addition, K, Mg, Ca, Na, Mn and Zn extracted by the new method from 122 acid to calcareous soils from the U.S. and Jamaica were compared to those extracted by DA, while K, Mg, Ca and Na extracted by the new method were also compared to those extracted by neutral, normal ammonium acetate. The ratio of extractable P by 0.075N HCl/DAF was used to classify soils into groups of < 0.34, 0.34 ‐ 0.66 and > 0.66.