Soil fertility management of agronomic crops requires assessing soil supply of nutrients via soil samples. Samples are made up of several sub-samples, that are mixed (i.e. composited), and of which a small sub set is submitted to a lab for chemical analysis. Extension guidelines vary by state. Current Extension recommendations in Nebraska suggest taking 5 sub-samples per composite to represent a specific location in a field. Soil tests are interpreted, and a fertilizer recommendation is made. Concern has been expressed by stakeholders on the adequacy of current recommendations for phosphorus (P) fertility. Stakeholders have suggested their own sampling and P response tests to reveal response to P fertilizer far in excess of the Extension’s reported findings. It is thought that errors in sampling are leading to inaccurate conclusions on the status of soil fertility. A sampling intensity study was conducted to determine number of sub-samples needed to accurately describe the soil nutrient status. Sampling was conducted on a University of Nebraska research field that has long term history of phosphorus rate applications by application method: broadcast and band applied. Sampling consisted of samples spaced every 6.4 cm from row to row, and to a depth of 25.4 cm in 5.1 cm increments. Results were subjected to repeated random sampling schema via computer simulation. Results showed that taking only 5 sub-samples to represent soil P status to significantly vary between sample simulations and fertilizer application method, which depending on the simulation would lead to different recommendations for fertilizer application. Refinement to Extension guidelines is recommended to reflect the uncertainty in representing nutrient status.