Red soil region is faced with the degradation of soil fertility and microbial function. The mechanisms of geographic distribution and evolution of soil microbe is the theoretic basis for improving soil fertility. The research progress was reviewed about the effects of environmental and human factors on changes in the microbial community composition in red soils, then the research focus and direction are discussed．The microbial communities in red soils are strongly influenced by the historical contingencies including geographic location and soil type as well as contemporary environmental disturbances including changes in climate conditions and farming practices, but their combined impact and relative importance remain poorly understood. The land use change and cultivation altere soil microbial community compositions, however more researches are needed to explore the temporal change mechanisms of soil microbial diversity and activity during long-term cultivation and fertilization based on chronosequential study. In the future, more attention should be paid to study soil-root-microbe interactions and their impacts on synergetic metabolism and translocation of soil nutrients, then to build best management practices for restoring microbial functions of degraded red soils.