Exudation of low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) from plant roots enhances phosphorus (P) acquisition from soil, either by dissolving P fixed in secondary minerals or by reducing P sorption to organo-minerals. How LMWOAs may modify P sorption in soils with contrasting pH is not well understood, much less the mechanisms involved. The effects of three common LMWOAs (oxalic, citric, and malic acids) on P sorption in calcareous, neutral, and acidic soils were studied in batch experiments, followed by sequential P fractionation to elucidate the mechanisms whereby LMWOAs alter P sorption. The sorption data of the three soils fitted better to the Freundlich equation (r² = 0.325-0.994, P < 0.05) than the Langmuir and linear equations. Oxalic, citric, and malic acids at 10 mmol kg^-1 soil decreased the Freundlich P sorption parameters K_f and n, which represent P sorption capacity and energy, due to the fact that LMWOAs reduced P sorption in NaHCO₃-Pi (soil soluble and exchangeable Pi, 23.8-30.9%) and NaOH-Pi (Fe-Pi and Al-Pi, 21.6-54.2%) fractions of the three soils. Comparing acidified P-LMWOAs solutions with the pH-adjusted P-LMWOAs solutions (pH = 7) had a minor effect on P sorption. Our results indicated that the reduction in soil P sorption was due to ligand exchange and chelation of LMWOAs with Fe and Al minerals, and the acid strength of LMWOAs had a minor effect on P sorption in calcareous, neutral, and acid soils.