The characteristics of soil microbes are sensitive indicators of soil fertility. Fertilization can influence soil physiochemical and biological properties. The impact of continuous cropping of corn on a soil ecosystem is a gradual process. Consequently, it is important to understand the effect of continuous cropping of corn and fertilization on soil microbial community functional diversity. In this study uncultivated (UC) and non-continuous cropping (NCC) were set as controls and treatments were continuous cropping of corn with different fertilization: application of straw (S), combined application of straw and N (SN), combined application of straw and NPK (SNPK), application of N (N), application of NPK (NPK), and no fertilizer (CK). Soil microbial community functional diversity was studied using Biolog ECO plates. The Average Well Color Development (AWCD) indicated the activity of the soil microbial community. The indices of Shannon index (H), Substrate evenness (E), Simpson′s Dominance (Ds) and Substrate richness (S) were calculated to show the soil microbial community diversity. Substrates in Biolog ECO plates were divided into 6 groups: Carbohydrates, Carboxylic acids, Amino acids, Amines, Polymers and Miscellaneous. Principal component analysis was used to show the difference utilization of substrates by soil microbes. The results indicated that AWCD changed with the incubation progress of different treatments in the following order: UC> NCC> CK; continuous cropping of corn with straw return (S, SN and SNPK)> NPK>CK> N. The activity of microbe was vigorous at the time of cultivation of 72 h and AWCD of treatments were range from 0.395 to 0.732. AWCD of UC was higher than CK and NCC. Continuous cropping of corn with straw return (S, SN and SNPK) significantly increased soil microbial activity and they were 1.26 to 1.62 times higher than continuous cropping of corn with fertilizer (N and NPK) and CK. UC and continuous cropping of corn with straw return (S, SN and SNPK) significantly increased the Shannon index (H) and Substrate evenness (E), while continuous cropping of corn with chemical fertilizer (N and NPK) decreased these microbial diversity indices (P<0.05). CK had lower microbial diversity indices (H, E and S) than UC, but they were higher than indices of NCC. NCC had larger Ds than other treatments because nitrogen-fixing microorganisms grew vigorously supported by the legume crop. Principal component analysis showed that carbon utilization by soil microbial communities changed in different treatments. However, UC and continuous cropping of corn with straw return (S, SN, SNPK) had similar carbon utilization. The treatments of UC, S, SN and SNPK concentrated in the positive direction of the first principal component and the score coefficients ranged from 2.39 to 4.17. Conversely, the treatments of CK, N, NPK and NCC concentrated in the negative direction of the second principal component and the score coefficients ranged from -5.43 to -1.59. The carbon sources mostly used by soil microbes were Carbohydrates, Amino acids, Carboxylic acids and Polymers. Therefore, uncultivated and continuous cropping of corn with straw return preserved soil quality well and improved the activity and functional diversity of the soil microbial community. Continuous cropping of corn with chemical fertilizer especially nitrogen fertilizer decreased soil microbial community functional diversity.