Data from: Earthworm increase litter decomposition irrespective of deposited compounds

Earthworms modulate carbon and nitrogen cycling in terrestrial ecosystems,
but their effect may be compromised by the deposition of pollutants from
industrial emissions. However, studies investigating how deposited
compounds affect the role of earthworms in carbon cycling such as litter
decomposition are lacking, although the interaction of earthworms and
deposited compounds are important for understanding the impact of
pollutants on ecosystems and the potential of earthworms in
bioremediation. We performed a 365-day in situ litterbag decomposition
experiment in a deciduous (Quercus variabilis) and coniferous (Pinus
massoniana) forest in southeast China. We manipulated nitrogen (N), sodium
(Na) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as model compounds during
litter decomposition with and without earthworms (Eisenia fetida).