In this study, an automated soil CO₂ flux system was used to measure soil respiration rates from 2008 to 2009 in an alpine meadow subjected to different grazing patterns (no grazing, grazing in summer, grazing in winter, and free grazing). We compared the seasonal dynamics and temperature sensitivity of soil respiration under the different grazing patterns, and found that 1) the seasonal dynamics of soil respiration were affected by grazing patterns. Soil respiration peaked later in the year in meadows subjected to winter grazing than in those in the no grazing, grazing in summer, and free grazing treatments; 2) the grazing pattern used affected seasonal variations in the rate of soil respiration, but not that of the mean annual rate of soil respiration; and 3) the sensitivity of soil respiration to soil temperature (Q₁₀) at a depth of 5 cm was affected by variations in grazing pattern. The Q₁₀ value was the highest under the no grazing for one year treatment, followed by, in descending order, the winter grazing, no grazing for three years, grazing in summer, and free grazing treatments. The Q₁₀ value of the alpine meadow was higher than that of the tropical and other temperate grasslands. These results suggest that grazing pattern plays an important role in carbon release from soils in alpine meadows. Additionally, in the future, global warming may cause more carbon to be released from non-grazed meadows than from those under grazing pressure during the growing season.