The application of phosphorus(P)and a water-retaining polymer to the soil can increase the availability of P for Cordia trichotoma,having a positive effect on the plants.The objective of this study was to evaluate the mor-phological,physiological and biochemical characteristics of C.trichotoma plants were cultivated in a red argisol and treated with 120,240 and 360 kg P2O5 ha-1 and no phos-phorous addition as a control,in the presence(5 g L-1 per seedling)and absence of a water-retaining polymer.Twenty-four months after planting,survival,height,stem diameter,shoot and root dry matter,leaf area,photosynthetic pigment concentration,chlorophyll a fluorescence,acid phosphatase enzyme activity(APase)and P in tissues and soil were deter-mined.The polymer had no effect on survival and the other parameters.The addition of P increased growth,dry mat-ter production,photosynthetic pigment concentrations,the use of light energy and maximum quantum yield of photo-system Ⅱ.Plants cultivated in soil with 240 kg P2O5 ha-1 application had 4.7 and 5.4 times more shoot and root dry matter,respectively,than control plants.This dosage also showed 52.1％greater photochemical energy use than the control plants.Plants cultivated without the addition of P showed higher activity of the APase enzyme.