title: Effect of petroleum on decomposition of shrub-grass litters in soil in Northern Shaanxi of China.
abstract: The impacts of petroleum contamination on the litter decomposition of shrub-grass land would directly influence nutrient cycling, and the stability and function of ecosystem. Ten common shrub and grass species from Yujiaping oil deposits were studied. Litters from these species were placed into litterbags and buried in petroleum-contaminated soil with 3 levels of contamination (slight, moderate and serious pollution with petroleum concentrations of 15, 30 and 45 g/kg, respectively). A decomposition experiment was then conducted in the lab to investigate the impacts of petroleum contamination on litter decomposition rates. Slight pollution did not inhibit the decomposition of any litters and significantly promoted the litter decomposition of Hippophae rhamnoides, Caragana korshinskii, Amorpha fruticosa, Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa, Periploca sepium, Medicago sativa and Bothriochloa ischaemum. Moderate pollution significantly inhibited litter decomposition of M. sativa, Coronilla varia, Artemisia vestita and Trrifolium repens and significantly promoted the litter decomposition of C. korshinskii, Z. jujuba var. spinosa and P. sepium. Serious pollution significantly inhibited the litter decomposition of H. rhamnoides, A. fruticosa, B. ischaemum and A. vestita and significantly promoted the litter decomposition of Z. jujuba var. spinosa, P. sepium and M. sativa. In addition, the impacts of petroleum contamination did not exhibit a uniform increase or decrease as petroleum concentration increased. Inhibitory effects of petroleum on litter decomposition may hinder the substance cycling and result in the degradation of plant communities in contaminated areas.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China. Electronic address: zhangxiaoxi712100@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Xiaoxi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, China. Electronic address: zengwenliu2003@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: Zengwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Lao Cai, Lao Cai City 330100, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Nhu Trung
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Luc
authors.affiliation: College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
authors.forename: Yuanhao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bing
authors.affiliation: College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
authors.forename: Bochao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
authors.forename: Wenxuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002681:China; D010578:Petroleum / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D010944:Plants; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D010578:Petroleum
keywords: Decomposition; Petroleum contamination; Shrub and grass litters