A second order equation best described the relationship between exchangeable Mg and both total and acid‐soluble Mg in select temperate and tropical soils. The relationship between acid‐soluble and total Mg was linear. Soil types differ in their Mg contents. On a per unit weight of material bases the finer soil particles contained more than 95 percent of the total soil inorganic magnesium. In tropical soils, as in temperate soils, the total Mg content of surface horizons tends to decrease with severe weathering, soil erosion and movement of soil colloidal particles down the profile.