Abstract: Samples of sediments collected from rivers flowing into the western part of the Taihu Lake were analyzed for release of soluble reactive phosphorus(SRP) and total dissolved phosphorus(TDP) as affected by pH.Results show that release of SRP and TDP varied sharply between rivers flowing into the Taihu Lake in the middle of the section,and remained more or less the same between rivers in the north and those in the south of the section,except when pH was very high.In rivers,high(or low) in nutrient content,phosphorus in sediments is liable to release in alkaline(or acidic) condition.It is,therefore,advisable to take into account the risk of alkalization or acidification triggering phosphorus release.Fe-P and Ca-P contents and their ratio are related to nutrient content of the rivers and phosphorus release from the sediments as well,suggesting that morphological composition of the phosphorus in sediments affects phosphorus release obviously.As the Taihu Lake per se is lower in hydrodynamics,but higher in nutrient content than the rivers,the sediments in the lake release more phosphorus than those in the rivers.