The present invention provides a method to increase phosphorus uptake in plants. This can be accomplished by mining phosphorus both in the free and bound state from the soil solution surrounding the roots of a plant. The process of mining involves the release of phosphorus from the bound state and the solubilization of unbound phosphorus to facilitate uptake by the roots of a plant. The mining of phosphorus can be accomplished by providing a phosphorus solubilizing compound having: i) at least one natural root acid; ii) at least one vitamin and iii) at least one crystalline carbohydrate, to a portion of a plant. The phosphorus solubilizing compound can be applied to plants to extract available phosphorus from the soil. This product can be either a soluble liquid or a solid.