Several factors affect phosphate sorption by soils. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the chemical and physical properties of surface and subsurface soils of a temperate region on P sorption from solutions containing various concentrations of P. Results showed that Na2S2O4‐extractable Fe and Al of surface soils were significantly correlated with P sorption from a solution containing 10, 15, or 20 ppm P. The relationships between the amounts of P sorbed and the other properties of the surface and subsurface soils studied (e.g., pH, organic C, soluble P, CEC) were influenced by use of 0.01MCaCl2as an equilibrating solution.