【Objective】This study aimed to examine seasonal variations in soil respiration rates during secondary tropical forest succession, which could provide a reference basis for an accurate assessment of the effects of tropical forest restoration on soil carbon and nitrogen pool changes.【Method】The LI-6400-09 respiration chamber connected to a portable infrared gas analyzer was employed for continuous observation of soil respiration rates in Mallotus paniculatus and Syzygium oblatum communities. We also assessed the effects of changes in soil microbial biomass carbon, bulk density, pH, and concentrations of carbon and nitrogen pools on soil respiration rates using the statistical methods of correlation and principal component analyses. 【Result】There were significant seasonal variations in respiration rates in the two secondary forests. Soil respiration exhibited a similar fluctuation pattern, with a single peak occurring during the wet season (June). Soil respiration rates were significantly higher in the S. oblatum community[3.80~6.19 μmol/(m²·s)]than in the M. paniculatus community[2.40~4.35 μmol/(m²·s)]. However, the variations in soil respiration rates were significantly higher in the early restoration stage (1.81 times) than in the late restoration stage(1.63 times). Soil respiration rates increased nonlinearly with seasonal variations in soil temperature and water values (P<0.01, or P<0.05). The contributions of soil temperature (49.00%~65.30%) and water content (2.96%~53.00%) to soil respiration variations were higher in the S. oblatum community than in the M. paniculatus community (6.40%~49.10%, 2.48%~43.70%). Soil respiration rates in the M. paniculatus and S. oblatum communities were positively correlated with the concentrations of the carbon pool (e.g., total organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon) and nitrogen pool (e.g., total nitrate and ammonium nitrogen)(P<0.01, or P<0.05). In contrast, there was a negative correlation with soil pH (P<0.01). Furthermore, the values of easily oxidized carbon, nitrate nitrogen, and water content contributed the most to variations in soil respiration rates, whereas the contributions of soil temperature, microbial carbon, total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, and hydrolyzable nitrogen to soil respiration dynamics ranked second. 【Conclusion】The secondary succession of Xishuangbanna tropical forests significantly promoted the soil respiration rates. The temporal variations in soil respiration rates were mainly controlled by the soil microclimate (e.g., water content), the concentrations of the carbon (e.g., easily oxidized carbon)and nitrogen (e.g., nitrate nitrogen) pools.