A field experiment was conducted over a period of six years to evaluate the agronomic effectiveness on permanent pasture of (i) an unground North Carolina phosphate rock (PR), and (ii) the PR treated with elemental sulfur (S) and Thiobacillus spp. bacteria (PR/S). Single superphosphate (SSP) was used as the reference fertilizer. Changes in soil solution phosphate (Pi) with time at 0–20 mm, 20–40 mm, and 40–75 mm depths, as effected by fertilizer treatments at different rates, were also determined. Application of PR/S gave the same dry matter yield as SSP from the first year onwards whereas PR gave less dry matter yield than SSP in the first 3 years and then again in year 5. The differences between fertilizers were not significant in years 4 and 6. Phosphate concentration in soil solution in the control treatment was greater in summer than in spring as a result of low pasture growth in summer, which was due to low rainfall. On application of SSP, Pi concentration in solution increased with increasing rate ...