The combined controls of land use legacy and earthworm activity on soil organic matter chemistry and particle association during afforestation

► We investigated forest SOM variability with past land use and earthworm activity. ► We analyzed C&N distribution and lignin and substituted fatty acid (SFA) chemistry. ► Earthworm activity limited O-horizon accumulation during afforestation. ► Past agriculture and earthworms increased microaggregated C&N and decreased C/N ratio. ► Earthworms promoted the increase of lignin/SFA ratio in afforested sites.