To assess the responses of the soil microbial community to chronic ozone (O 3 ), wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum Linn.) were planted in the field and exposed to elevated O 3 (eO 3 ) concentration. Three treatments were employed: (1) Control treatment (CK), AOT40=0; (2) O 3 -1, AOT40=1.59ppm•h; (3) O 3 -2, AOT40=9.17ppm•h. Soil samples were collected for the assessment of microbial biomass C, community-level physiological profiles (CLPPs), and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs). EO 3 concentration significantly reduced soil microbial carbon and changed microbial CLPPs in rhizosphere soil, but not in non-rhizosphere soil. The results of the PLFAs showed that eO 3 concentrations had significant effects on soil community structure in both rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils. The relative abundances of fungal and actinomycetous indicator PLFAs decreased in both rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils, while those of bacterial PLFAs increased. Thus the results proved that eO 3 concentration significantly changed the soil microbial community function and composition, which would influence the soil nutrient supply and carbon dynamics under O 3 exposure.