A number of studies on the soil respiration in grassland communities of the world were reviewed. Periodical measurements of soil respiration by gas chromatography method and relevant environmental factors in a grazed steppe community in the Xilin River Basin of Inner Mongolia were conducted from June 5 to Oct. 15 in 2001. The relationships were analyzed between the soil respiration rate and temperature,soil moisture and biomass components. Root respiration was extrapolated by the relation of soi...