Technical Abstract: The USDA/NRCS updated the 590 nutrient management policy in 1999 so that states must choose one of three ways to develop nutrient management plans for fields fertilized with animal manure; (1) base applications on the agronomic P needs of the crop, (2) set an environmental soil test P threshold above which manure could not be applied, or (3) use a P index. Most states opted to develop a P index. The objective of this paper was to compare P index ratings from southern states (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, and TX). Most of the states developed qualitative indices, however, AR, GA and NC developed quantitative P Indices that calculate P runoff losses. All states use a low, medium, high and very high rating class, with the same management implications that were outlined in the Federal NRCS 590 standard, except for Texas, which uses 1x crop removal of P for impaired water body segment and 1.5x crop removal for non-impaired water bodies. The only two states which have verified their indices against experimental data are AR and TX. The only southern state to conduct a sensitivity analysis on their index is NC. This study helps identify similarities and differences between P indices across state boundaries and should help states when revising P indices in the future.