Competing vegetation suppression and fertilization are commonly used treatments in intensive pine plantation management; however, the impact of these two silvicultural treatments upon soil microbes is not yet fully understood. This study aims to characterize how competing vegetation suppression and fertilization alter the soil microbial community. Additionally, this study seeks to determine how these changes in the microbial community affect soil surface CO2 efflux. Finally, we attempt to link measures of forest structure to the diversity of the microbial community. This study uses a 2x2 factorial design to test the effects of these silvicultural treatments at Piedmont and Coastal Plain Pinus taeda plantations across the state of Georgia. Carbon substrate utilization profile (CSUP) assays, phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, whole soil fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis, microbial biomass, and soil surface CO2 efflux are the primary measurements we are using to characterize the soil microbial community. To measure forest structure, we measure tree height, diameter at breast height, canopy density, basal area, stand mortality, understory density, herbaceous ground cover, mineral soil ground cover, and litter depth. Preliminary whole soil FAME analysis at one of the Piedmont sites has shown a separation in the microbial community of fertilized and non-fertilized plots when analyzed with principle component analysis. While this study is still in progress, current data has also indicated some effect upon soil CO₂ efflux due to understory suppression treatments.