The removal of dyes (Cibacron Yellow C-2R, Cibacron Red C-2G, Cibacron Blue C-R, Remazol Black B and Remazol Red RB) from an aqueous solution has been discussed by adsorption which was examined on three different low cost pretreated agricultural residues viz., wheat straw, corncob and barley husk. The pretreatments were carried out in order to delignify, or to increase the surface area of the sorbents, and to study their effect on the rate and effective adsorption of dyes. Steam, alkali, ammonia steeping and milling were the pretreatments employed and compared with the untreated sorbents. A higher percentage of dye removal was achieved at a faster rate by the milled samples proving milling to be a better and more cost effective treatment, except for barley husk which had a higher percentage removal for the control.