The term starter fertilizer is commonly used to denote the application of nutrients in a band located near the seed. Nutrients are applied during planting, usually in quantities less than crop removal rates. This paper focuses on how efficiently crops can utilize phosphorus (P) applied in this manner. Lower soil test levels usually result in a greater short-term recovery of starter P, as measured by isotopic dilution. However, long-term recovery over a number of years may be much greater than recovery in any single year. Consequently, economic assessments must consider both long and short-term revenue generation and fertilizer investments. Also contributing to recovery efficiency is the maximum influx rate by roots. Crops have differing capacities to take in P quickly early in the season, which may determine their potential responsiveness to starter P applications as well as the overall P recovery rates of various crop rotations.