Denitrifying communities differentially respond to flooding drying cycles in paddy soils

► Eh is more significantly related to N2O flux from paddy soil than water content. ► narG- and nosZ-containing denitrifiers respond quickly to drainage. ► narG and nosZ gene abundance are significantly related to water content. ► narG gene abundance is significantly correlated to Eh changes. ► narG gene is more directly linked to the N2O flux in drainage process than nosZ.