Currently, the information about the sorption of tetracycline (TC) on animal manure derived biochar was rare although plant residue derived biochar showed high sorption of TC). Therefore, this study explored the sorption of TC on swine manure derived biochar, and compared with rice straw derived biochar simultaneously. Also, H3PO4 was adopted to modify both types of biochar. The sorption kinetic and isotherm data showed H3PO4 modification enhanced the sorption of TC on both types of biochar (especially swine-manure-biochar), and indicated the chemisorptions including H-bonding and p-p electron donor acceptor interaction might be the primary mechanism. Moreover, the strengthened electrostatic attraction between TC and biochars might largely explain the enhanced sorption capacity of TC along with pH increasing from 5.0 to 9.0. At the same conditions, swine manure derived biochar demonstrated lower sorption capacity of TC than rice straw biochar, but still could be good material for the sorption of TC.