In order to reveal soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) responses of different tree species to global warming, soil warming of root-boxes were employed at the Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station in Sanming, Fujian. The representative plant seedlings of Castanopsis carlesii (CC) and Cunninghamia lanceolata (CL) in subtropical areas were selected as the research objects, and no tree was set as the control (NT). Uv-vis spectrum and fluorescence spectrum analysis were used to explore the effects of short-term warming on soil DOM concentrations and spectral characteristics. The results showed that, 1) Soil DOC concentrations were significantly different under different tree species, which was significantly higher under CL than that under CC and NT. Tree species had no significant effects on soil DOM fluorescence index (FluI), biological index (BIX) and humification index (HIX), but soil DOM aromaticity (SUVA₂₅₄) and hydrophobicity (SUVA₂₆₀) were higher under CC than those of CL and NT. 2) Short-term warming had no significant effect on soil DOC concentration under different tree species, and did not significantly affect the SUVA₂₅₄, SUVA₂₆₀, molecular weight (SUVA₂₈₀), BIX and HIX, but short-term warming significantly increased FluI of soil DOM and the relative contribution of dissolved microbial by-product components. 3) RDA and SEM analyses both showed that soil warming affected soil DOM concentration and spectral characteristics to varying degrees by regulating root growth, soil nutrients and microbial biomass. In conclusion, short-term warming insignificantly affects soil DOM concentrations and spectral characteristics under different tree species, but decreases the complexity of soil DOM structure and increases the metabolism sources of microbial activity. This study provides basic data for understanding the concentration and composition of forest soil DOM in subtropical region, and also provides certain reference for tree species selection under global warming.