Several chelators Including EDTA, DTPA, deferriferrioxamine B (FOB), mugineic acid (MA), and 2'‐deoxymugineic acid (DMA) were tested for their ability to extract Fe from different soil samples. MA and DMA exhibited the highest efficiency of Fe extraction, especially at alkaline pH. Other chelators proved to be poor in solubilizing Fe; EDTA and DTPA solubilized either Al or Ca preferentially depending on the soil pH, while FOB extracted mainly Al at both acid and alkaline pH's. Mugineic acids, while proved highly efficient in extracting Fe from calcareous, high pH soils, appeared vulnerable to microbial decomposition.