Very good questions. ..I did my MSc field study in the same topic...whether pre emergence herbicides applied over soil surface just before planting or sowing operations affects microbial proliferation or not...Yes...it surely affects microorganisms colonies in the soil...I took soil samples of each treated plots with different treatments viz chemical *pre and post emergence)and non chemical also at 50 DAS stages of DSR..I observe and analyze bacteria fungi and actinomycetes population by using serial dilution techniques...I must conclude that results obtained reveals that non chemical weed management practices have lesser adverse impact on soil microorganisms rather than that of chemically treated plots where pre emergence herbicides were applied...though herbicide degradation or deactivation is also carried out by microorganisms in order to reduce residual effect for longer period of time...but some how, microbial population of chemically treated soil is lesser than non chemical approach...