The experiment was carried out in greenhouse in order to find responses by bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to four rates of P application on five soils of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, namely:a. sandy quartz (Entisol); b. red yellow podzolic, Lara variation (Ultisol); c. red-ocre latosol (Oxisol); d. red yellow podzolic, Piracicaba, variation (Ultisol); e. terra roxa estruturada (Alfisol). According to the data, the following conclusions were drawn: - There was a significant response to P added. - The efficient utilization of P was low. - These was a very good correlation (r=0.94**) between the soluble P extracted by means of the Mehlich and IAC methods and Dry Vegetal Matter (DVM) and the P in this DVM. - Both extractants for organic P gave good correlation with DVM and P in this DVM (r= 0.69*).