The effect of organic matter on the nitrogen removal performance of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) process was investigated in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor fed with nitrogen loading rate of 13.92 kg N m(-3) day(-1) at an HRT of 0.83 h. Mass balance showed that the heterotrophic denitrification prevailed in the UASB reactor, and became the dominant reactions when high influent COD/NO(2)(-)-N ratios of 2.92 were applied. The Anammox bacterial growth was significantly suppressed by denitrifying communities under high organic matter content due to the weaker competition for nitrite (electron acceptor) and living space. Long-term operation of the Anammox UASB reactor under relatively high organic content resulted in weak recovery performance. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.