Abstract:The objectives of this study were to assess the potential effects of climate change on the decomposition of mixed litter from three steppe communities dominated by Stipa baicalensis, Leymus chinensis,and S. grandis, respectively. We applied the buried bag method along an altitudinal temperature gradient to investigate the potential effect of climate change on litter decomposition. Under current climatic conditions, if the mean air temperature rises 2.7℃ and no change occurs in precipitation, the decomposition rates of the three litter mixtures will increase 15.4%, 35.8% and 6.7%, respectively. If mean air temperature increases by 2.2℃ or more in combination with a 20% or more fall in precipitation, then the decomposition rates of these litter mixtures will decrease. Different responses of decomposition to simulated climate change were observed among the three litter mixtures used in the study. The results contrasted to those reported by other researchers who found close relationships between decomposition rates, the C, N content and C/N ratio of litter mixtures.