ObjectiveThe response of litter decomposition rate of Artemisia ordosica to warming is helpful to understand and predict the carbon cycle and nutrient cycling of the Mu Us Desert of northwestern China under the background of climate change.

MethodThe Open Top Chamber (OTC) was used to simulate the warming, and plant decomposition was put into the mesh bags to explore the effects of warming on the decomposition of Artemisia ordosica litter.

ResultThe residual rate of litter quality of each part under the warming treatment was higher than that of control, simulated warming reduced the rate of litter decomposition. (1) From May to October in 2017, under the warming treatment, the residual rates of the twig and letters were 91.07% and 71.73%, respectively, but under control, the two indicators were 86.08% and 60.74%; (2) different types of litter decomposition rates were different under varied treatment conditions at different time periods, and there were significant interactive effects between each influening factor; (3) the Olson negative index model showed that under the warming treatment, the decomposition coefficient k of the twigs and leaves of Artemisia ordosica litter was lower than that of control. (4) Warming didn’t affect the bacterial diversity and structure of litter.

ConclusionWarming may slow down the decomposition of plant litter in arid and semi-arid areas, and the inhibition of warming on litter decomposition is related to decomposition time and litter types.