A single P fertilization at establishment can have beneficial long-term affects on stand growth. Phosphorus concentration in soil solution is controlled by the buffering capacity of the soil. However, P concentration in solution can be increased by ligand exchange and dissolution of mineral surfaces. Ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi exude organic ligands such as oxalate that are capable of desorbing P from minerals surfaces in the EcM rhizosphere. Bulk soil samples and EcM roots were collected from control and fertilized plots in two forest stands fertilized in 2004 and 1980. The soil adhering to the EcM roots was separated and composite samples were made according to the EcM exploration type. The concentration of ligand desorbable P was analyzed after a 7 hour extraction with 500 µmol oxalate g^-1 soil. We hypothesize that ligand desorbable P pools in the bulk soil of fertilized plots will be greater than ligand desorbable P pools in bulk soil of control plots and the EcM rhizosphere. Results from this study may help predict the long-term affects of P fertilization and EcM fungi on labile P pools in forest soils.