Diesel oil was used as adsorbate, while corn stalk, wheat straw and sawdust were used as natural sorbents for adsorbing and absorbing pure oil and oil in water. The results showed that all three agricultural wastes absorbed diesel. The corresponding saturated sorption amounts of wheat straw, corn stalk and sawdust were 8.54gg1, 7.03gg1 and 8.2gg1. The optimum conditions found were: corn stalk particle size between 830 and 1700m, oscillation frequency of 0rmin1, i.e., no wave movement, oil film thickness of 0.55mm and adsorbent dosage of 0.29g; sawdust particle size between 830 and 1700m, oscillation frequency of 0rmin1, oil film thickness of 0.55mm and adsorbent dosage of 0.25g; wheat straw particle size between 500 and 830m, oscillation frequency of 0rmin1, oil film thickness of 0.55mm and adsorbent dosage of 0.24g.