Effect of clear-cutting on soil respiration was investigated in a Chinese fir(Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantation in Fujian Province for one year(from February 2003 to January 2004) following clear-cutting.Soil respiration was measured in situ utilizing the alkali sorption technique.During the first 4 months clear-cutting significantly increased soil respiration level,which dropped drastically in the following 6 months,while there was no significant difference in mean soil respiration rates during the study periods between the clear-cut site and the control site(intact site).Respiration rates of forest floor and mineral soils in the clear-cut site were significantly higher than in the control site during the first 5 and 6 months,and there were no significant differences thereafter.Root respiration rate in clea-rcut site declined rapidly and disappeared after the 3 months,and was only significantly higher than in the control site during the first month.The contributions to total CO₂ evolution from forest floor respiration,mineral soil respiration and root respiration in clea-rcutsite were 34.5%,6319% and 116%,and were 231 4%,5011% and 2615% in control site,respectively.Soil temperature and soil moisture together accounted for 54% and 90% of variations of the soil respirations in the clea-rcut and the control sites.Soil respiration and its compartments in the clea-rcut site were lower in temperature sensitivity but higher in moisture sensitivity than in the control site.Q₁₀ values for total soil respiration,mineral soil respiration,and forest floor respiration was 1142,1153,and 1134,respectively,in the cut site and 2142,1181,and 2140,respectively,in the control site.Root respiration of the control site was the highest in Q₁₀ value,being as high as 4.41.