Earthworms, the most important macro-fauna in agroecosystem play an important role in nutrient cycling. Earthworm activity is known to increase emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O) from arable soils. Earthworm gut, casts, and burrows have exhibited higher denitrification activities than the bulk soil. Furthermore, the earthworm feeding strategy may drive N₂O emissions, as it determines access to fresh organic matter for denitrification. Here, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of residues and earthworm (Metaphire guillelmi) activities on soil properties and N₂O emissions. Treatments included: (1) no earthworm addition, no residues application (2) residues incorporated and mixed with soil only, (3) residues mulch only, (4) residues incorporated + earthworms inoculation, and (5) residues mulch + earthworms inoculation. These treatments were abbreviated as CK, I, M, IE and ME. The N₂O fluxes was measured in situ using the static chamber technique and analyzed with gas chromatogram in a winter wheat field. The results indicated that Metaphire guillelmi significantly enhanced soil N₂O emissions. Soil mineral nitrogen (especially NO₃^--N content) was increased, and nitrogen mineralization was strengthened by earthworm activities. In the treatment with straw residues mulching, the cumulative emission amounts of N₂O significantly increased from 11.59 to 14.26 kg/hm² (P< 0.05) in the presence of earthworm, with a corresponding increase in the contents of soil NO₃^--N by 20.1% (P< 0.05) and up to 21.13 mg/kg. However, if residues were incorporated into the soil, the earthworm effect disappeared in the late phase of the experiment and with a corresponding increase in the contents of soil NO₃^--N by 11.7% and up to 21.21 mg/kg. Cumulative emissions of N₂O were positively correlated with the NO₃^--N content measured at the end of the experiment. The high N₂O emissions in the presence of Metaphire guillelmi, when residues mulched, suggest a stimulation of nitrogen mineralization and mixing residue into the soil, switching residue decomposition from an aerobic and low denitrification pathway to one with significant denitrification and N₂O production.