【Objective】A number of studies have reported that specific ion effects possibly exist universally in cation adsorption processes. In this study, based on the ion adsorption kinetics model that takes into account non-classical polarization of ions, adsorption kinetics of alkali metal ions on the surface of yellow earth particles (a surface with variable charges) was characterized. In addition, origins of the Hofmeister effects in the ion adsorption kinetics on surface of yellow earth particles were investigated. 【Method】 Kinetics of Li⁺, Na⁺ and Cs⁺ adsorptions in the K⁺ -saturated yellow soil was studied with the miscible displacement technique under a steady flow condition. In the flowing liquid Li⁺, Na⁺ and Cs⁺ was spiked at 1×10^-2 mol?L^-1, 1×10^-3 mol?L^-1 and 1×10^-4 mol?L^-1 respectively and pH adjusted to 4. 【Result】(1) Li⁺、Na⁺ and Cs⁺ varied sharply in adsorption rate and equilibrium adsorption capacity, when they were the same in concentration, which shows apparent ion specificity in the ions exchange process. The three metals exhibited an order of Cs⁺ > Na⁺ > Li⁺, in adsorption rate and equilibrium adsorption capacity, when in solutions low in electrolyte concentration (1×10^-4 mol?L^-1), and an order of Cs⁺ > Na⁺ ≈ Li⁺ when in solutions high in electrolyte concentration (1×10^-2 mol?L^-1 and 1×10^-3 mol?L^-1), which suggests that volume is a major factor affecting equilibrium adsorption capacity in solutions high in electrolyte concentration. (2) It was also found that d (thickness of the Stern layer) decreased with increasing electrolyte concentration in the same electrolyte system, exhibiting an order of d_Na >d_Li > d_Cs in solutions high in electrolyte concentration (1×10^-2 mol?L^-1 and 1×10^-3 mol?L^-1), and a different order ofd_Li >d_Na > d_Cs in solutions low in electrolyte concentration (1×10^-4 mol?L^-1). The Stern layer of Cs⁺ was the lowest in d, regardless of electrolyte concentration, and too thin for the more softer electric cloud of Cs⁺, thus possessing relatively stronger non-classical polarization than Na⁺ and Li⁺, but for Na⁺ and Li⁺, volume might play a dominant role affecting ion adsorption processes in solutions high in electrolyte concentration, and consequently d_Na was found higher than d_Li; otherwise the non-classical polarization would play a dominant role in solutions low in electrolyte concentration, weakening the volume effect, and reversing the order as d_Li > d_Na. Therefore diffusion distance and then equilibrium adsorption capacity is determined by volume effect and non-classical polarization. (3) The order of K^diff_Cs/H > K^diff_Na/H > K^diff_Li/H≈1 means that the sequence of Li⁺，Na⁺ and Cs⁺ in electric adsorption in the K⁺-saturated yellow soil is Cs⁺ > Na⁺ > Li⁺≈H⁺, and also demonstrates that volume does not have much effect on ion adsorption in the double diffusion layer. And in terms of surface potential (absolute value), the three metals follows an order Li⁺ > Na⁺ > Cs⁺ in solutions the same in concentration, indicating that the surface potential is only affected by non-classical polarization.【Conclusion】The interaction of ion-surface is determined by ion non-classical polarization and ion volume effect.