As the technology of X-ray absorption fine structure(XAFS)spectroscopy is capable of probing in situ shells of 2 or 3 neighbors closest to an absorbing atom,thus obtaining information about electronic and chemical structures of the target element such as oxidation state,next nearest neighbors,bond distances,and coordination numbers,it has become one of the most important tools in analyzing microscopic structure,and its use has revolutionized,and will continue to,our understanding of important chemical properties and processes. To promot its application to soil science in China,a brief introduction is given to the foundation of XAFS;and issues of concerns in sample preparation,test and data analysis. Besides a review is presented with emphasis on its application in studying speciation of heavy metals and nutrients in soils,and processes and mechanism of the reactions at soil solid-solution interface. Finally,limitations and prospects of XAFS are also discussed. Owing to complexity of the soil interface reactions,it is advisable to apply XAFS in combination with other structure analysis techniques such as X-ray diffraction,nuclear magnetic resonance,infrared spectroscopy,electron paramagnetic resonance,electron microscopy,etc. Some macroscopic approaches such as bulk adsorption,kinetic reactions,and mathematic computation,should be also used. At that time,soil scientists must and will increasingly collaborate with other scientists and engineers. Only in this way,is it possible to elucidate in spatial and temporal scale the complex reactions at environmental interfaces involving inorganic and organic and microbial components of the soils.