Effect of incubation and microbial inhibition at field capacity level on changes in DTPA‐extractable Mn in acidic, neutral, and alkaline soils was examined. Incubation decreased and microbial inhibition increased the level of Mn in soils with high pH (>5.7) and high microbial activity. The change was apparently partially associated with microbes since the level of Mn did not change in soils with low microbial activity and/or low pH.