Abstract: Ten agricultural soils,collected from the Changjiang and Zhujiang Deltas,were analyzed to explore Pb,Cu and Cd adsorption-desorption behaviors of the soils.It was found that soil properties had much influence on heavy metal adsorption-desorption behavior of the soils,and pH was the most important factor controlling adsorption-desorption of the metals.The soils high in pH value,organic matter content and clay content were higher in heavy metal adsorption capacity than those lower in these aspects.Heavy metal desorption rate of the soils increased exponentially with heavy metal accumulation of the soils.In terms of soil adsorption ability for heavy metals,a decreasing order was observed as Pb>Cu>Cd,and the same order was found with the heavy metals in competitive adsorption.The competition between the metals for adsorption increased with soil acidity and heavy metal pollution level of the soils.