The limited availability of phosphorus resources and its low mobility in soil exacerbated the supply-demand relationship between food production and population growth. Humic acid，which contained a variety of functional groups，could enhance phosphorus availability in soil and crop phosphorus uptake through several mechanisms. These included complexing metal ions with phosphorus in the soil，reducing phosphorus adsorption by steric hindrance on mineral surfaces，directly participating in the metabolic processes of plant phosphorus absorption，and indirectly promoting phosphorus uptake through microbial mediation. These processes were crucial for improving phosphorus availability in soil and enhancing crop phosphorus absorption. However，the mechanisms by which humic acid activated soil phosphorus and improves its efficient utilization still face challenges. For example，further research was needed to explore how the structural differences of various functional groups in humic acid affect phosphorus desorption and activity. This review outlined research on the role of humic acid in enhancing phosphorus availability in both alkaline and acidic soils and improving crop efficiency in utilizing phosphorus fertilizers. It also offered suggestions for future research on improving phosphorus fertilizer use efficiency with humic acid，providing a theoretical basis for innovations in efficient phosphorus fertilizers.