A two-year field experiment with plots of early rice applied with different rates of phosphorus fertilizer(P₂O₅ 0, 30,60,90,120,150 kg hm^-2) were carried out in 2003 and 2004 to study residual effect of P on the yield composition of late rice.According to the correlation analysis of effective ears number,grain number per ear,maturity degree,1000-grain weight,and grain yield with P application rates,it could be concluded that P residual effect was significant mainly on effective ears number and grain number per ear and eventually the yield of rice.The more phosphorus fertilizer applied on early-rice,the higher the yield increase rate of late-rice.Owing to the difference of rainfall between 2003 and 2004,the P residual effect on late-rice yield was different.P could play an important role in improving the ability of late-rice to stand drought.It is therefore recommended that the application rate of P should be in the range from 85 to 135 kg hm^-2.