diff --git a/main/EDPftvarcon.F90 b/main/EDPftvarcon.F90
index 5745141c70..f454a03013 100644
--- a/main/EDPftvarcon.F90
+++ b/main/EDPftvarcon.F90
@@ -1845,7 +1845,6 @@ subroutine FatesCheckParams(is_master)
                     call endrun(msg=errMsg(sourcefile, __LINE__))
                  end if
               end if
-
            end if
         end if
         
@@ -1871,7 +1870,25 @@ subroutine FatesCheckParams(is_master)
               call endrun(msg=errMsg(sourcefile, __LINE__))
            end if
         end if
-        
+
+        ! We are using a simple phosphatase model right now. There is
+        ! no critical value (lambda) , and there is no preferential uptake (alpha).
+        ! Make sure these parameters are both set to 0.
+
+        if ((hlm_phosphorus_spec>0) .and. (trim(hlm_nu_com).eq.'ECA')) then
+           if (any(abs(EDPftvarcon_inst%eca_lambda_ptase(:)) > nearzero ) ) then
+              write(fates_log(),*) 'Critical Values for phosphatase in ECA are not'
+              write(fates_log(),*) 'enabled right now. Please set fates_eca_lambda_ptase = 0'
+              write(fates_log(),*) ' Aborting'
+              call endrun(msg=errMsg(sourcefile, __LINE__))
+           end if
+           if (any(abs(EDPftvarcon_inst%eca_alpha_ptase(:)) > nearzero ) ) then
+              write(fates_log(),*) 'There is no preferential plant uptake of P from phosphatase'
+              write(fates_log(),*) 'enabled right now. Please set fates_eca_alpha_ptase = 0'
+              write(fates_log(),*) ' Aborting'
+              call endrun(msg=errMsg(sourcefile, __LINE__))
+           end if
+        end if
         
      case (prt_carbon_allom_hyp)
         ! No additional checks needed for now.
@@ -1915,6 +1932,9 @@ subroutine FatesCheckParams(is_master)
         end if
      end if
 
+
+     
+
      do ipft = 1,npft
 
         ! xl must be between -0.4 and 0.6 according to Bonan (2019) doi:10.1017/9781107339217 pg. 238
diff --git a/parameter_files/archive/api33.0.0_020524_patch_params.xml b/parameter_files/archive/api33.0.0_020524_patch_params.xml
index 8beff2ff42..d2c6858308 100644
--- a/parameter_files/archive/api33.0.0_020524_patch_params.xml
+++ b/parameter_files/archive/api33.0.0_020524_patch_params.xml
@@ -66,5 +66,25 @@
       <ln>Parameter 2 for h2cd allometry (log-slope or exponent). If allom_dmode=1; this is not needed (as exponent is assumed 1)</ln>
       <val>1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1</val>
     </mod>
+    <mod type="variable_del">
+      <na>fates_cnp_eca_alpha_ptase</na>
+    </mod>
+    <mod type="variable_del">
+      <na>fates_cnp_eca_lambda_ptase</na>
+    </mod>
+    <mod type="variable_add">
+      <na>fates_cnp_eca_alpha_ptase</na>
+      <di>fates_pft</di>
+      <un>g/m3</un>
+      <ln>(INACTIVE, KEEP AT 0) fraction of P from ptase activity sent directly to plant (ECA)</ln>
+      <val>0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0</val>
+    </mod>
+    <mod type="variable_add">
+      <na>fates_cnp_eca_lambda_ptase</na>
+      <di>fates_pft</di>
+      <un>g/m3</un>
+      <ln>(INACTIVE, KEEP AT 0) critical value for biochemical production (ECA)</ln>
+      <val>0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0</val>
+    </mod>
   </mods>
 </all>
diff --git a/parameter_files/fates_params_default.cdl b/parameter_files/fates_params_default.cdl
index b34d9475d1..1ecbb13725 100644
--- a/parameter_files/fates_params_default.cdl
+++ b/parameter_files/fates_params_default.cdl
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ variables:
 		fates_c2b:long_name = "Carbon to biomass multiplier of bulk structural tissues" ;
 	double fates_cnp_eca_alpha_ptase(fates_pft) ;
 		fates_cnp_eca_alpha_ptase:units = "g/m3" ;
-		fates_cnp_eca_alpha_ptase:long_name = "fraction of P from ptase activity sent directly to plant (ECA)" ;
+		fates_cnp_eca_alpha_ptase:long_name = "(INACTIVE, KEEP AT 0) fraction of P from ptase activity sent directly to plant (ECA)" ;
 	double fates_cnp_eca_decompmicc(fates_pft) ;
 		fates_cnp_eca_decompmicc:units = "gC/m3" ;
 		fates_cnp_eca_decompmicc:long_name = "maximum soil microbial decomposer biomass found over depth (will be applied at a reference depth w/ exponential attenuation) (ECA)" ;
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ variables:
 		fates_cnp_eca_km_ptase:long_name = "half-saturation constant for biochemical P (ECA)" ;
 	double fates_cnp_eca_lambda_ptase(fates_pft) ;
 		fates_cnp_eca_lambda_ptase:units = "g/m3" ;
-		fates_cnp_eca_lambda_ptase:long_name = "critical value for biochemical production (ECA)" ;
+		fates_cnp_eca_lambda_ptase:long_name = "(INACTIVE, KEEP AT 0) critical value for biochemical production (ECA)" ;
 	double fates_cnp_eca_vmax_ptase(fates_pft) ;
 		fates_cnp_eca_vmax_ptase:units = "gP/m2/s" ;
 		fates_cnp_eca_vmax_ptase:long_name = "maximum production rate for biochemical P (per m2) (ECA)" ;
@@ -1062,8 +1062,7 @@ data:
 
  fates_c2b = 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 ;
 
- fates_cnp_eca_alpha_ptase = 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 
-    0.5, 0.5, 0.5 ;
+ fates_cnp_eca_alpha_ptase = 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ;
 
  fates_cnp_eca_decompmicc = 280, 280, 280, 280, 280, 280, 280, 280, 280, 280, 
     280, 280 ;
@@ -1079,7 +1078,7 @@ data:
 
  fates_cnp_eca_km_ptase = 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 ;
 
- fates_cnp_eca_lambda_ptase = 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 ;
+ fates_cnp_eca_lambda_ptase = 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 ;
 
  fates_cnp_eca_vmax_ptase = 5e-09, 5e-09, 5e-09, 5e-09, 5e-09, 5e-09, 5e-09, 
     5e-09, 5e-09, 5e-09, 5e-09, 5e-09 ;