Abstract Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient applied as fertilizer in agricultural fields. However, excessive fertilization leads to P build up in soils, increasing its potential to cause environmental pollution. The objective of this study was to evaluate the average P drawdown rate of 56 sites with drawdown management presented in 14 publications. Soil test P (STP) results were converted to Mehlich‐3 equivalent and resampling analysis was used to compare the annual drawdown rate in fields grouped by four initial STP classes. The STP was reduced by 4.3%–8.2% per year, depending on the initial STP class. It took from 8.4 to 15.9 years to reduce the STP by half. The resulting equations from this meta‐analysis can be used by landowners to estimate the time needed for STP drawdown by cropping without additional P to achieve the desired STP concentration. Core Ideas Cropping without phosphorus (P) fertilization is one of the few options to reduce soil test P (STP). A meta‐analysis of the annual P drawdown rate was performed using 56 sites presented in 14 publications. Fields were grouped into four initial STP classes based on Mehlich‐3 STP equivalent. The STP was reduced from 4.3% to 8.2% per year in fields with high and low initial STP. The time needed to reduce the STP by half varied from 8.4 to 15.9 years depending on the initial STP.