The concentration of various phosphorus forms and the amount of phosphorus loss in runoff from yellow soil of hilly areas by terrace cropping in Guizhou provinc e were studied. The results showed that particulate P concentration was 0.276~2. 516 mg/L, accounting for 90.5%~98.9% of total P, and the concentrations of ortho -P and bio-available P were respectively 0.020~0.065 mg/L and 0.210~0.733 mg/L in the runoff. The contents of particulate P and bio-available P reduced 1 7.09%~57.94% and 16.01%~36.83%,respectively, in surface runoff derived from terr aced lands than from un-terraced lands. In addition, the amount of particulate P loss in runoff decreased 71.64% from plots cultivated terracing slope than fro m plots cultivated up and down slope, while the amount of dissolved P loss had n o difference significantly. Therefore, terrace cropping and balanced application for fertilizers was an effective way to reduce P loss in the upland fields.