Purpose <p>Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) reduces nitrogen loss in subtropical soils. It is important to explore the characteristics of DNRA in lateritic red soils for a comprehensive understanding of nitrogen cycle processes.</p> Methods <p>We applied quantitative PCR (qPCR) and high-throughput sequencing on eight different vegetation-covered lateritic red soils in subtropical China. We also investigated the abundance of the DNRA functional gene <i>nrfA</i> and DNRA bacterial communities in lateritic red soils, and their correlation with soil physicochemical factors.</p> Results <p>The results showed that DNRA bacteria were widely present in subtropical soils; the abundance of the <i>nrfA</i> gene in orchard soils (6.73 ± 0.35 × 10⁶ copies g⁻¹) was higher than that in plantation forest soils (2.19 ± 0.41 × 10⁶ copies g⁻¹); and the abundance and diversity of microorganisms in orchard soils were higher than those in plantation soils, but the dominant bacterial flora was similar. Except for HZ soil, the shared bacterial genera were primarily <i>Anaeromyxobacter</i>, which accounted for 38.02% to 72.78%. Correlation and redundancy analyses showed that <i>nrfA</i> gene abundance and major DNRA genera in subtropical lateritic red soils were significantly and positively correlated with pH, C/NO₃⁻-N, available phosphorus, available potassium, and cation exchange.</p> Conclusion <p>C/NO₃⁻-N and pH had a positive effect on lateritic red soil <i>nrfA</i> gene and <i>Anaeromyxobacter</i>. However, gene and bacterial abundances cannot serve as a direct indicator of the DNRA rate, and further investigation and analysis can be conducted in subsequent studies.</p>