[Objective] The effects of conservation tillage on soil respiration were researched to provide a theoretical basis for the development of conservation agriculture in arid area.[Methods] Soil respiration rate was carried out using multi-channel soil carbon flux measurement system instrument. Tillage treatments were:conventional tillage(T), conventional tillage with stubble retention(TS), no tillage(NT) and no tillage with stubble retention(NTS).[Results] Respiration rate in flowering period was 10.45%~45.09% higher than that in harvest period for all tillage measures. In comparison with TS, NT and T treatment, NTS treatment significantly reduced soil C emission with the percentages of 39.17%, 21.37% and 30.25%, respectively(p<0.01). Soil respiration at sunny day presented an stubble unimodal curve with the peak value at 14:00. The averaged daily soil respiration rates under the two tillage treatments were high but not insignificant than that under the two no-tillage treatments. Under tillage treatments(T, TS), a significant linear correlation was found between soil respiration rate and air temperature; under the no-tillage treatment(NT, NTS), they had a significant exponential relationship(p<0.01). Q₁₀ values, namely the atmospheric temperature sensitivity under the four tillage treatments had a rank of T(1.97) >NT(1.62) >TS(1.58) >NTS(1.52).[Conclusion] Conservation tillage as the no tillage with stubble retention(NTS) has its contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.