Soil carbon (C) mineralization and its response to temperature and moisture are important components of an ecosystem's C cycle. In this study, soils of alpine wetlands and meadows in the Zoige region were incubated at various temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25℃) and soil moisture regimes (70%, 100%, and 130% saturated soil moisture (SSM)). Soil C mineralization rate (or soil microbial respiration rate) was measured regularly. The main objectives were to (1) explore whether the responses of soil C mineralization and in particular, its temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀), are different between alpine wetland and meadow soil types, and (2) to reveal impact of warming and drying scenarios on soil C storage and C sequestration in alpine wetlands and steppe environments. The results showed that soil C mineralization increased significantly with increasing incubation temperature, but excessive soil moisture depressed soil C mineralization. The soil C mineralization capacity in the alpine wetland soil was higher than that of the alpine meadow, regardless of soil moisture. Moreover, soil water content and grassland types interactively influenced Q₁₀ of soil C mineralization (F=14.79,P < 0.001). In the meadow, the values of Q₁₀ increased significantly with increasing water content, as follows: 70% SSM (1.21) < 100% SSM (1.76) < 130% (2.80) in the 7-day incubation experiment, and rose from 1.17 to 4.53 in the 56-day incubation experiment. The Q₁₀ values were not significantly different in the wetland under different soil moisture in the 7-day incubation experiment; but the Q₁₀ values increased significantly with increasing soil moisture in the 56-day incubation experiment. On the basis of the different Q₁₀ values, we concluded that soil C mineralization of the meadow soil is more sensitive to future regional warming and drying scenarios than that of the alpine wetland. When evaluating the effect of warming and drying scenarios on soil C storage and sequestration within alpine wetland and steppe environments, the phenomenon that the Q₁₀ responds differently to changes in soil moisture and temperature in the alpine meadow and alpine wetland ecosystems should be considered.