Soil CO 2 efflux was measured in clear‐cut and intact plots in order to quantify the impact of harvest on soil respiration in an intensively managed Eucalyptus plantation, and to evaluate the increase in heterotrophic component of soil respiration because of the decomposition of harvest residues. Soil CO 2 effluxes showed a pronounced seasonal trend, which was well related to the pattern of precipitation and soil water content...