In order to understand the inorganic carbon cycle of the groundwater-fed reservoir in karst area, Dalongdong Reservoir, which is located at Shanglin County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, was investigated from 12th to 20th July, 2014. Concentration of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), delta13C of DIC (delta13C(DIC)), partial CO2 pressure (pCO2) and CO2 flux across water-air interface were studied by observation in situ and high-resolution diel monitoring. Results show that: (1) DIC concentration and water pCO2 increased from upstream area to downstream area [DIC(average)): from 122.88 to 172.02 mg x L(-1), pCO2(average) : from 637.91 x 10(-6) to 1399.97 x 10(-6)], while delta13C(DIC) decreased from upstream area to downstream area [delta13C(DIC(average): from -4.34% per hundred to -6.97% per hundred] in the reservoir. (2) CO2 efflux across water-air interface varied from 7.11 to 335.54 mg x (m2 x h)(-1) with mean of 125.03 mg x (m2 x h)(-1) in Dalongdong reservoir surface-layer waters, which was the source of atmospheric CO2. CO2 effluxes across water-air interface in upstream area [mean 131.73 mg x (m2 x h)(-1)] and downstream area [mean 170.25 mg x (m2 x h)(-1)] were higher than that in middle area [mean 116.05 mg x (m2 x h))(-1)] in the reservoir. (3) Water pCO2 and CO2 efflux across water-air interface showed similar characteristics of diel variations, which decreased in daylight and increased in night and showed a negative correlation with chlorophyll a (Chla). Possible reasons of research results are found as follows: (1) DIC concentration, water pCO2 and delta13C(DIC) are influenced by biomass of phytoplankton, turbidity, conductivity, the depth of water and transparency, while CO2 efflux across water-air interface is controlled by both of biomass of phytoplankton and wind speed. (2) Photosynthesis, respiration and vertical motion of phytoplankton possibly affect diel variations of DIC cycle in the groundwater-fed reservoir in karst area.