To reveal the impact of vertical non-uniform distribution of soil moisture on nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, incubated experiments were conducted from April to August 2013 on silty clay and sandy loam with four watering regimes [surface watering (SW) and subsurface watering application to levels 12, 15, and 18 cm below soil surface (SUW12, SUW15, SUW18)]. Short-term pulse emissions of N₂O from both soils during the drying process were observed. The soil water-filled pore space (WFPS) at 0-12 cm depths for peak N₂O fluxes in SW and SUW soils fell within 34-66%, 22-72%, 25-35%, and 19-39% for silty clay and sandy loam, respectively. Our results also suggest that the N₂O fluxes from soil of sily clay with higher N content are much higher than that from sandy loam, and N₂O were more easily influenced by soil moisture in SW soils than in SUW soils. However, more research is needed to identify an ideal soil-wetting pattern and the way to realize the ideal soil-wetting pattern, especially on soil with plant growth and fertilization.