Differential effect of afforestation on nitrogen-fixing and denitrifying communities and potential implications for nitrogen cycling

► The denitrification rate is strongly linked to the denitrifying community composition. ► A relationship between denitrifying and nitrogen fixing exists in soils. ► Land-use will have a significant impact on N-transformations and ecosystem processes. ► The denitrifying community is mainly influenced by site while the N-fixing community is influenced by both site and land-use types.