Assess the role of soil fungi and bacteria to decomposition of maize residues and macroaggregate formation.
We used PLFA and 13C in specific PLFA.
Amount of and maize-derived C in fungal PLFA correlated with macroaggregate amount.
Quality of plant residues determines composition and activity of the soil microbial biomass.
Fungal activity is of importance in the formation of macroaggregates.
Actinomycetes may take over the role of soil fungi in the decomposition of soil organic matter.