The capacity of soil microorganisms to desorb phosphorus (P) adsorbed to iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al) oxides was determined by impregnating paper strips with these oxides, adding P in quantities equivalent to the null points, and incubating the strips in Argisol and Latosol samples receiving increasing doses of glucose (0 to 10 mg g soil −1 ). Glucose stimulated microbial activity and at the end of the incubation period 69 and 41 percent of the added carbon (C) had been released as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in the Argisol and Latosol. This stimulated activity resulted in increasing P desorption, reaching 66 and 67 percent of the adsorbed P in the Fe strips and 49 and 80 percent in the Al strips for the Argisol and Latosol, respectively. Therefore, microorganisms can desorb P adsorbed to Fe and Al oxides when stimulated by an easily assimilated C source. Fe-and Al-oxide-impregnated paper strips technique provided an adequate method to measure soil P desorption, as mediated by microorganisms.