To get further information on the behavior of phorate(0,0-diethyl S-ethylthiomethyl phosphorodithioate) in soil under the subtropical conditions, a field experiment has been conducted. Phorate granule (10%) was applied to silt loam soil at the rate of 40kg a.i./ha and incorporated to 10cm soil depth. Residues of phorate and its metabolites in soil were determined with GLC and confirmed qualitatively with TLC. Phorate was rapidly oxidized to its sulfoxide and sulfone. Therefore, main metabolic pathway of phorate in soil was the oxidation of phorate to phorate sulfoxide and sulfone. Phorate sulfoxide and sulfone were relatively more persistent than phorate itself. Phoratoxon was detected at low level only up to 30 days after treatment and its sulfoxide and sulfone were not detected during the whole experimental period. Toluene-acetonitrile-nitromethane(40 : 30 : 30, v/v/v) solvent system separated satisfactorily phorate and its five metabolites. Most of the residues was found in the initial incorporation depth $(0{sim}10cm)$. Consequently, insecticides showed a little downward movement.