One experiment was conducted during three successive growing seasons in São Simão, State of São Paulo, Brazil, to test the effect of different phosphates and liming on the uptake of phosphorus by soybeans. The phosphates were: <<araxá>>- rock phosphate, hyperphosphate, termophosphate (Yoorin) and triple superphosphate, at rates of 100, 200 and 400kg/ha of water or 2% citric acid soluble P2O5 and a common control without phosphorus. The phosphates were broadcasted over limed or non limed plots. Dolomitic lime was applied at rates of 2500kg/ha before the first and third planting. The cultivar used was 'Santa Rosa'. Field data demonstrated the importance of the nutrients, specially calcium, carried by the phosphate together with phosphorus, on growth, grain productivity and phosphorus uptake by soybeans. In the presence of lime, there was no marked effect of phosphates on the productivity and P uptake. In non limed treatments, the less soluble fertilizers (<<araxá>> and hyperphosphate) which were applied at higher rates than the soluble phosphates and consequently carrying larger amounts of calcium, showed better residual effects if compared to the more soluble phosphates (thermophosphate and triple superphosphate).