Shanghai is situated in the Yangtze Delta. The main soil types in this district are greyish-blue lowland rice soil (swamp type),greyish-brown upland rice soil (meadow type),brownish-yellow upland rice soil (meadow type) and salty soil.A preliminary study was made on the contents of available boron and zinc as well as their affecting factors in the soils mentioned above. The samples were collected from 44 localities. The contents of available boron and zire varied greatly. The content of available boron in the plough layer ranged from 0.06 to 3.20 ppm with an average of 0.71 ppm, and that of available zinc ranged from 0.25 to 5.47 ppm with an average of 1.82 ppm. In 80% of the collected samples, the available boron was 1.0 ppm or less;and in 33% of the samples, the available zinc was 1.0 ppm or less.