Leaf litter decomposition is a key ecological process that strongly regulates carbon sequestrationnutrient cycling in forests. While the effects of climateinitial litter nutrient chemistry on mass loss are well established, the dynamics of multiple nutrients in decomposing leaf litter, particularly those beyond nitrogen (N)phosphorus (P),their downstream effects on subsequent mass lossnutrient release remain insufficiently understood. We conducted a two-year litterbag decomposition experiment using litter from seven tree species in a mixed evergreendeciduous broad-leaved forest along an altitudinal gradient (800–1800 m a.s.l.) in subtropical China. Alongside concurrent temporal high-resolution microclimatic data, we followed changes in concentrations of multiple litter nutrients, including potassium (K), calcium (Ca),magnesium (Mg). Despite initial variation in litter nutrient concentrationsclimatic conditions, nutrient concentrations in decomposing litter generally converged over time, except for the dissimilar PCa at later decomposition stages. Initial nutrients, particularly P, Ca,Mg concentrations, displayed modest but consistent effects on nutrient concentrations in decomposing litter. Most importantly, air temperaturenutrient concentrations in the decomposing litter influenced subsequent mass lossnutrient release in distinct ways. By incorporating multiple nutrients to link nutrient dynamics in decomposing litter to the subsequent decomposition process, our study provides an integrative framework to enhance process-based predictions of nutrientcarbon cycling in forests.