To study the effects of temperature on the respiration of biocrust-dominated soil, intact soil columns with two types of biocrusts (moss and algae-lichen crusts) were collected in a natural vegetation area in the southeast fringe of the Tengger Desert. Automated soil respiration system (Li-8150) was used to measure the respiration rates of biocrust-dominated soils under warming (by placing them in an open top chamber) and non-warming treatments during an extreme rainfall event. The results showed that diurnal variation of the respiration of two types of biocrust-dominated soil showed a single peak at 12:00-14:00, after which it began to decrease, reaching a minimum value at 00:00-2:00. During the whole observation period, imitated climate warming impeded respiration rates of the two biocrust-dominated soils. Under an extreme rainfall event, the relationship between the daily mean respiration rate of biocrust-dominated soil and soil temperature could not correctly reflect their relationship. But the diurnal variations of the respiration rate of biocrust-dominated soil could properly reflect their relationship, and the respiration rates of biocrust-dominated soil showed significantly positive linear correlations with soil temperature.