The search for a cost effective, ecologically safe and environmentally sound remediation technique has led to an increased interest in phytoremediation of TNT contaminated soils. Literature suggests that nitroaromatic compounds, such as TNT are characterized by relatively low aqueous solubility that limits plant uptake. Soil properties play an important role in controlling the fate of TNT, and hence, its adsorption to soil particles. Potential complexation of soluble TNT by soil organic matter decreases the phytoavailability of TNT. In most soils, due to microbial activity, TNT rapidly undergoes reductive degradation, thereby increasing the degree of irreversible binding to soil organic matter with time. The reported study examined the adsorption and desorption characteristics of TNT in different chemically variant soil types. The soils varied widely in their physicochemical properties such as pH, organic matter content, cation exchange capacity, extractable Fe, clay content, etc. The objectives of this study were to i) determine the effect of soil properties on adsorption of TNT, and ii) characterize TNT retention/release in these soils as function of microbial activity, equilibration time and initial TNT load. Desorption studies were carried out immediately after each adsorption step to investigate the release potential of pre-adsorbed TNT.