SUMMARYThe increase of organic acids in soils can reduce phosphorus sorption. The objective of the study was to evaluate the competitive sorption of P and citrate in clayey and sandy loam soils, using a stirred-flow system. Three experiments were performed with soil samples (0-20 cm layer) of clayey (RYL-cl) and sandy loam (RYL-sl) Red Yellow Latosols (Oxisols). In the first study, the treatments were arranged in a 2 × 5 factorial design, with two soil types and five combinations of phosphorus and citrate application (only P; P + citrate; and citrate applied 7, 22, 52 min before P); in the second, the treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design, corresponding to two soils and two forms of P and citrate application (only citrate and citrate + P); and in the third study, the treatments in a 2 × 2 × 6 factorial design consisted of two soils, two extractors (citrate and water) and six incubation times. In the RYL-cl and RYL-sl, P sorption was highest (44 and 25 % of P application, respectively), in the absence of citrate application. Under citrate application, P sorption was reduced in all treatments. The combined application of citrate and P reduced P sorption to 25.8 % of the initially applied P in RYL-cl and to 16.7 % in RYL-sl, in comparison to P without citrate. Citrate sorption in RYL-cl and RYL-sl was highest in the absence of P application, corresponding to 32.0 and 30.2 % of the citrate applied, respectively. With P application, citrate sorption was reduced to 26.4 and 19.7 % of the initially applied citrate in RYL-cl and RYL-sl, respectively. Phosphorus desorption was greater when citrate was used. Phosphorus desorption with citrate and water was higher in the beginning (until 24 h of incubation of P) in RYL-cl and RYL-sl, indicating a rapid initial phase, followed by a slow release phase. This suggests that according to the contact time of P with the soil colloids, the previously adsorbed P can be released to the soil solution in the presence of O aumento de ácidos orgânicos pode induzir à redução da sorção de P em solos. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a sorção competitiva de P e citrato em solos de textura muito argilosa e franco-arenosa, utilizando o sistema de fluxo contínuo (stirred-flow). Foram realizados três experimentos com amostras da camada de 0-20 cm de dois Latossolos VermelhoAmarelo, texturas muito argilosa (LVA_arg) e franco-arenosa (LVA_fa). No primeiro, os tratamentos foram definidos por fatorial 2 × 5, sendo dois solos e cinco configurações de aplicação de P e citrato no solo (apenas P, P + citrato e citrato 7, 22, 52 min antes do P); no segundo, os tratamentos foram determinados por fatorial 2 × 2, dois solos e duas formas de aplicação de P e citrato no solo (apenas citrato, citrato + P); e, no terceiro, os tratamentos foram definidos segundo um fatorial 2 × 2 × 6, sendo dois solos, dois extratores (citrato e água) e os seis períodos de incubação. O valor máximo da sorção de P no LVA_arg e LVA_fa foi observado na testemunha sem aplicação de citrato, correspondendo a 44 e 25 % ...