In this paper, experiments of phosphate sorption and buffering capacity of the soils collected from the suburbs of Shenghai were conducted, and the phosphate adsorptics index and phosphate fertilizer index were studied. Results obtained showed that phosphate sorption indices calculated from Freundlich, Tempkin and Langmuir equations were closely related with the types and properties of the soils, they could be regarded as an iutportant index for sodl fertility."Phosphate fertilizer index" that reflects buffering capacity of soils was closely related with roil organic matter content, clay content, active Al content and pH value. Results also showed that the adsorption maxima (X_m),P adsorbed at 0.2 ppm and phosphate fertilizer were in a descending order waterlogged paddy soil>stagnating paddy soil>percolating paddy soil>permeable paddy soil>sandy permeable paddy soil.