Adsorption of potassium and sodium ions by four typical variable charge soils of South China was studied. The results indicated that the variable charge soils saturated with H and Al showed a much higher preference for potassium ions relative to sodium ions, and this tendency could not be changed by such factors as the pH, the concentration of the cations, the dielectric constant of solvent, the accompanying anions and the iron oxide content etc., suggesting that this difference in affinity is caused by the difference in the nature of the two cations. It was observed that a negative adsorption of sodium ions by latosol and lateritic red soil in a mixed system containing equal amount of potassium and sodium ions at low pH, which is caused by a competitive adsorption of potassium and sodium ions and repulsion of positive charge on the surfaces of soil particles for cations. The adsorption of potassium and sodium ions increased with the decreases in the dielectric constant of solvent and the iron oxide con Adsorption of potassium and sodium ions by four typical variable charge soils of South China was studied. The results indicated that the variable charge soils saturated with H and Al showed a much higher preference for potassium ions relative to sodium ions, and this disadvantage could not be changed by such factors as the pH, the concentration of the cations, the dielectric constant of solvent, the accompanying anions and the iron oxide content etc., suggesting that this difference in affinity is caused by the difference in the nature of the two cations. It was observed that a negative adsorption of sodium ions by latosol and lateritic red soil in a mixed system containing equal amount of potassium and sodium ions at low pH, which is caused by a competitive adsorption of potassium and sodium ions and repulsion of positive charge on the surfaces of soil particles for cations. The adsorption of potassium and sodium ions increased with the decrease in the dielectric constant of solvent and the iron oxide con