The effects of maize growth and N-application(N 150 mg kg^-1 and 300 mg kg^-1)on soil respiration were investigated in pot experiment.The results showed that in the maize-planted soil,the soil respiration rate ranged from C 19.6 to 762.1 mg m^-2h^-1,but in the bare soil,it was in the range from C 4.3 to 36 mg m^-2h^-1.Soil respiration rate was the lowest at the seedling stage and 73% of the soil respiration occurred at the elongating-booting stage and ripening stage.The contribution of maize rhizosphere respiration to soil respiration in each stage varied from 58% to 98% and was the lowest at the seedling stage.In the bare soil,N-application had no significant effect on soil respiration,whereas in the maize-planted soil,the soil respiration was 28% higher in the treatment of high N-application rate than in the treatment of low N-application rate during the whole maize-growing period.The significant difference between the two treatments only occurred in the metaphase and anaphase of maize growth.There was no significant correlation between soil respiration rate and temperature in the maize-planted soil,but in the bare soil,soil respiration rate was correlated exponentially to the temperature of the air,soil surface and at 5 cm depth significantly,and its correlativity was higher in the treatment of high N-application rate than in the treatment of low N-application rate.In conclusion,maize growth and soil N-application rate influenced not only the rate and intensity of soil respiration,but also the distribution of soil respiration in each developing stage of maize and the relationship between soil respiration rate and temperature.