Acommon household detergent (Persil) was incubated with ………Bacillus subtilis.for 7 days. Phosphorus in the filtrate was used as a base for a complete nutrient solution for maize; in comparison with a standard nutrient solution containing KH2PO4 as a phosphorus source. Incubated detergent in low doses (up to the equivalent of 0.35 and 0.2 mM P for shoot and root, respectively) was beneficial to maize and was even superior to KH2PO4; but higher doses imposed a harmful effect. Uptake of P by maize was slightly greater from KH2PO4 than from incubated detergent. Uptake of K and Ca was reduced, while that of Na was increased by increasing P level in the medium. The reduction in K concentration of plant tissues was more pronounced in case of KH2PO4- than that of incubated detergent-treated plants. Incubated detergent favored Ca transport to the shoot, compared with KH2PO4. Nitrogen uptake was enhanced in response to increasing P level and this was associated with enhancing assimilation of nitrate (decreasing NO3-/total N ratio) in shoot but retarding assimilation (increasing NO3-/total N ratio) in roots.