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Peat land has been considered as an alternative type of land for agricultural development especially in the tropics. In the present study, the N‐supplying capacity, one of the most important soil properties in terms of crop production, of peat soils was examined. Ten peat soil samples were collected from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Japan. Gross N mineralization in the soil samples was estimated using a zero‐order model, and kinetic parameters of mineralization were determined using a simple type model. Soil organic matter composition was investigated using 13C CPMAS NMR. Mineralization potential (N0), apparent activation energy (Ea), and mineralization rate constant (k) ranged between 571–2,445 mg kg−1, 281–8,181 J mol−1, and 0.009–0.020 d−1, respectively. Although none of the parameters showed a significant correlation with the soil C/N ratio, a negative correlation was observed between the k value and the ratio of the proportion of alkyl C in total C to that of O‐alkyl C estimated by 13C CPMAS NMR. The latter suggested that the k values were higher in the peat soils relatively rich in readily decomposable organic matter including carbohydrates.

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