Changes in plant biomass and nutrient removal over 3 years in a constructed wetland in Cairns, Australia

2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 303-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Greenaway ◽  
A. Woolley
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Nutrient Loading ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Emergent Macrophytes ◽  
Total N ◽  
Loading Rates ◽  
Total Nitrogen Removal ◽  
Reactive Phosphorus

The surface flow wetland in Cairns, Australia consists of 3 linear channels each 65 m long. Channels 1 and 2 are 5 m wide and Channel 3 is 15 m wide. The wetland was constructed in 1994 and band planted with emergent macrophyte species and alternating open water sections. The wetland was monitored for plant growth and nutrient removal until 1997. During that period HRT was 16 days in Channel 1 and 10 days in Channels 2 and 3; mass loading rates were 2.4 kg Total N and 2.0 kg Total P ha-1 d-1 in Channel 1 and 3.7 kg TN and 3.3 kg TP ha-1 d-1 in Channels 2 and 3. The aim of this work was to determine the proportion of nutrient removal that could be attributed to direct uptake by macrophytes and incorporated into plant biomass. Over the 3 year monitoring period reduction in total mass of nutrients was: Channel 1: 26% P, 85% N; Channel 2: 28% P, 87% N; Channel 3: 21% P, 81% N. Percentage reduction of FRP (Filterable Reactive Phosphorus) was similar to TP; NOx removal was 97-98%. Mass removal rates for TN and TP were higher in Channels 2 and 3 despite greater nutrient loading rates and shorter detention times. Total FRP removal was 23 kg P in Channel 1, 33 kg P in Channel 2 and 70 kg P in Channel 3 of which plant biomass accounted for 65%, 44% and 47% respectively. Total nitrogen removal was 92 kg in Channel 1, 154 kg in Channel 2 and 386 kg in Channel 3 of which plant biomass accounted for 47%, 27% and 27% respectively. Thus, in this tropical surface flow wetland supporting a mixture of emergent macrophytes and floating duckweed, vegetation is an important mechanism for direct nutrient removal.

Nutrient removal and plant biomass of 5 wetland plant species in Singapore

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. H. Sim ◽  
H. S. Eikaas ◽  
S. H. Chan ◽  
J. Gan
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Typha Angustifolia ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Removal Rates ◽  
Phragmites Karka ◽  
Removal Efficiencies

Five native plant species (Typha angustifolia, Scirpus mucronatus, Lepironia articulata, Eleocharis dulcis and Phragmites karka) were investigated for their nutrient removal efficiencies in shallow pond systems in Sg Buloh Wetland Reserve with water depth 0.12-0.30 m of a total 160 m2 in area size. The project aimed to investigate nutrient removal rates, removal efficiencies, nutrient storage in plant biomass, and plant growth. Pond water quality before and after planting in fully vegetated ponds improved significantly at 24.4% TP and 64.4% TN reduction in Pond 6. Scirpus mucronatus, Typha angustifolia, Lepironia articulata and Eleocharis dulcis showed high growth rates. Phragmites karka showed low growth rate due to pest attack by aphids. Nutrient concentration in stem/leaf samples of the 5 species were within the ranges of 1% to 3% of dry weight for nitrogen and 0.1% to 0.3% of dry weight for phosphorus. Average daily mass removal rates ranged from 3.5-9.6 kg P ha−1 day−1 and 13.5-33.5 kg N ha−1 day−1. This field trial showed that the 4 species Lepironia articulata, Eleocharis dulcis, Typha angustifolia and Scirpus mucronatus are suitable species in surface flow wetland or shallow pond systems for nutrient removal in tropical environments.

Suitability of macrophytes for nutrient removal from surface flow constructed wetlands receiving secondary treated sewage effluent in Queensland, Australia

2003 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Greenway
Keyword(s):  
Water Column ◽  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Secondary Effluent ◽  
Surface Flow Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Emergent Species

From a botanical perspective the major difference between waste stabilisation ponds and wetlands is the dominance of algae or floating plants in the former and emergent plants in the latter. Algae, floating and submerged plants remove nutrients directly from the water column whereas emergent species remove nutrients from the sediment. Water depth is a crucial factor in determining which plant types will become established. Surface flow constructed wetlands offer the greatest potential to grow a wide variety of different types of macrophytes. In assessing the suitability of plant species for nutrient removal, consideration must be given not only to nutrient uptake for growth but also storage of nutrients as plant biomass. A survey of macrophytes in 15 surface flow constructed wetlands treating secondary effluent was conducted in Queensland; 63 native species and 14 introduced species were found. Emergent species have been able to tolerate deeper water than in their natural environment and permanent waterlogging. All species grew well in the higher nutrient enriched wastewater. Submerged, floating leaved-attached and free floating species had the highest tissue nutrient content, followed by aquatic creepers. All these species remove nutrients from the water column. Emergent species had lower nutrient content but a greater biomass and were therefore able to store more nutrients per unit area of wetland. In order to maximise the efficiency of constructed wetlands for nutrient removal, a range of species should be used. Native species should be selected in preference to introduced/exotic species.

scholarly journals Investigating emergent macrophytes establishment rate and propagation towards constructed wetlands efficacy optimization

2021 ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Paraskevi Manolaki ◽  
Annica Olesen ◽  
Bjørg Graves Hvidt ◽  
Torben L. Lauridsen ◽  
Tenna Riis
Keyword(s):  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Nutrient Loading ◽  
Continuous Production ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Handling Time ◽  
Growth Efficiency ◽  
Drainage Water ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Emergent Macrophytes

Constructed wetlands have become a widely used tool for reducing nutrient loading from agriculture drainage water running to aquatic ecosystems. To ensure a high nutrient removal efficiency, it is often suggested to use macrophytes to retain or remove nutrients via uptake and through the denitrifying biofilm. In Europe, Phragmites australis and Typha spp are the most commonly used aquatic plants in constructed wetlands (CWs) with free surface flow, and these species often form monocultures in the wetlands. In order to achieve a more diverse vegetation, there is a need to introduce more plant species. Creating a mass production of plant material reduces both handling time and the risk of depleting and disturbing vegetation in natural habitats such as streams or lakes. However, a successful and continuous production of such material during growing seasons requires knowledge of the selected species' establishment and propagation. We examined the relative growth rate (RGR) of six emergent macrophyte species collected from streams and small lakes located in Mid Jutland (Denmark), in seasonal experiments from March to October in order to determine the most efficient time period for their propagation. We found that all species had highest RGR in June, and that several species showed high growth efficiency from April to August. The results showed that it is possible to have a full production of emergent macrophytes throughout the growing season, and therefore, we suggest to propagate plants for use in constructed wetlands in order to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

scholarly journals 447 Nutrient Removal by Five Ornamental Wetland Plant Species Grown in Treatment-production Wetland Biofilters

HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 521D-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas C. Holt ◽  
Brian K. Maynard ◽  
William A. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Typha Latifolia ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Production Potential ◽  
Total N ◽  
Horticultural Products ◽  
Garden Plant

We assessed the capacity for nutrient removal of ornamental water garden plants being grown in treatment-production wetland biofilters. Plant biomass, nutrient uptake, tissue nutrient content, and production potential were compared for five popular ornamental water garden plant species: Typha latifolia L., Iris pseudacorus L., Phalaris arundinacea L. `Picta', Canna glauca L., and Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott. Plants were grown in triplicate 0.3 m2 × 0.3 m, deep gravelbed mesocosms fed with 20N-20P-20K Peter's fertilizer (Scotts-Sierra Horticultural Products Co., Marysville, Ohio) reconstituted to 100 ppm N. After 120 days, mean species total biomass ranged from 1.4 to 5.6 kg·m -2, while producing 105 to 206 divisions per square meter. Growth for Canna and Colocasia was greatest, while Typha produced the most divisions. Mean tissue N and P concentrations ranged from 18 to 29 and 2.1 to 3.0 mg·g -1, respectively. Maximum plant accumulation of 144 g N/m 2 and 15.6 g P/m2 accounted for 70% of the N and 15% of the P supplied by fertilizer. Mean removal of total N and P ranged from 42% to 90% and 18% to 58%, respectively, and was positively correlated with plant biomass. Nutrient removal ability was ranked as Canna = Colocasia > Typha > Iris = Phalaris.

Seasonal nutrient uptake of plant biomass in a constructed wetland treating piggery wastewater effluent

2013 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 1317-1323 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Y. Lee ◽  
M. C. Maniquiz ◽  
J. Y. Choi ◽  
S. M. Jeong ◽  
L. H. Kim
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Uptake ◽  
Constructed Wetland ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Piggery Wastewater ◽  
Concentration Changes

The surface-flow constructed wetland (CW) located in Nonsan City, South Korea, and constructed as the final stage of a piggery wastewater treatment plant that aims to treat high nutrient content effluent during dry days and stormwater runoff during wet days was monitored from October 2008 to November 2011. This research investigated the seasonal nutrient uptake of plant biomass in the CW and nutrient concentration changes in each treatment region under monsoon and temperate climate conditions. Results showed that the mean total nitrogen removal during summer (June to August) was higher by 13% than in spring (March to May), while total phosphorus removal was higher by 22% in fall (September to November) than in winter (December to February). All plants in the CW reached their maximum biomass coverage and weight in summer and minimum growth in winter. The highest N and P content in plants occurred in September with 583.2 g/m2 and August with 62.0 g/m2, respectively. Based on the results, it is recommended that the harvesting of plants should be conducted during the time of the peak nutrient uptake and before the plants release the nutrient content back to the CW. The dependence of nutrient removal efficiency on plants is not so significant. In order to increase the nutrient removal rate by plant uptake, it is suggested that the treatment regions in the CW be covered by plants.

Loading rates of nutrients discharging from a golf course and a neighboring forested basin

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 99-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takao Kunimatsu ◽  
Miki Sudo ◽  
Takeshi Kawachi
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Loading ◽  
Chamaecyparis Obtusa ◽  
Phosphorus Loading ◽  
Golf Course ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Golf Courses ◽  
Japanese Cypress ◽  
Arithmetic Average ◽  
Loading Rates ◽  
Runoff Rate

In the last ten years, the number of golf courses has been increasing in some countries as the game gains popularity. This indicates, a need to estimate the nutrient loading from golf courses in order to prevent the eutrophication of water bodies. Nutrient concentrations and flow rates of a brook were measured once a week from 1989 to 1990 at two sites: Site A of a brook flowing out from D-golf course (53 ha) and Site B of the same brook discharging into the golf course from an upper forested basin (23 ha) covered mainly with planted Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa SIEB. et ZUCC). The bedrock of the area was granite. The annual values of precipitation and mean temperature were 1947 mm and 13.5°C in 1989, respectively. The arithmetic average values of discharge from the forested basin and the golf course were 0.392 and 1.26 mg/l total nitrogen (TN), 0.0072 and 0.145 mg/l total phosphorus (TP), 0.82 and 3.53 mg/l potassium ion (K+, 5.92 and 8.24 mg/l sodium ion (Na+), 2.1 and 9.9 mg/l suspending solid (0.001–2.0 mm, SS), 0.087 and 0.147 mS/cm electric conductivity (EC), and 0.031 and 0.037 m3/km2•s specific discharge, respectively. The loading rates of the forested basin and the golf course were 5.42 and 13.5 TN, 0.133 and 3.04 TP, 8.84 and 33.9 K+, 55.0 and 73.0 Na+, and 54.3 and 118 SS in kg/ha•y. The leaching and runoff rate of nitrogen in the chemical fertilizers applied on the golf course was calculated as 32%. These results indicated the importance of controlling the phosphorus loading for the management of golf courses.

Experience with nutrient removal in a fixed-film system at full-scale wastewater treatment plants

1997 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vibeke R. Borregaard
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
High Specific Surface Area ◽  
Biological Nutrient Removal ◽  
Growth Processes ◽  
Total N ◽  
Attached Growth ◽  
On Line

In the upgrade of wastewater treatment plants to include biological nutrient removal the space available is often a limiting facor. It may be difficult to use conventional suspended growth processes (i.e. activated sludge) owing to the relatively large surface area required for these processes. Recent years have therefore seen a revived interest in treatment technologies using various types of attached growth processes. The “new” attached growth processes, like the Biostyr process, utilise various kinds of manufactured media, e.g. polystyrene granules, which offer a high specific surface area, and are therefore very compact. The Biostyr plants allow a combination of nitrification-denitrification and filtration in one and the same unit. The results obtained are 8 mg total N/l and an SS content normally below 10 mg/l. The plants in Denmark which have been extended with a Biostyr unit have various levels of PLC control and on-line instrumentation.

scholarly journals Effects of two wood-based biochars on the fate of added fertilizer nitrogen—a 15N tracing study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subin Kalu ◽  
Gboyega Nathaniel Oyekoya ◽  
Per Ambus ◽  
Priit Tammeorg ◽  
Asko Simojoki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Uptake ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Organic N ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Application Rates

AbstractA 15N tracing pot experiment was conducted using two types of wood-based biochars: a regular biochar and a Kon-Tiki-produced nutrient-enriched biochar, at two application rates (1% and 5% (w/w)), in addition to a fertilizer only and a control treatment. Ryegrass was sown in pots, all of which except controls received 15N-labelled fertilizer as either 15NH4NO3 or NH415NO3. We quantified the effect of biochar application on soil N2O emissions, as well as the fate of fertilizer-derived ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−) in terms of their leaching from the soil, uptake into plant biomass, and recovery in the soil. We found that application of biochars reduced soil mineral N leaching and N2O emissions. Similarly, the higher biochar application rate of 5% significantly increased aboveground ryegrass biomass yield. However, no differences in N2O emissions and ryegrass biomass yields were observed between regular and nutrient-enriched biochar treatments, although mineral N leaching tended to be lower in the nutrient-enriched biochar treatment than in the regular biochar treatment. The 15N analysis revealed that biochar application increased the plant uptake of added nitrate, but reduced the plant uptake of added ammonium compared to the fertilizer only treatment. Thus, the uptake of total N derived from added NH4NO3 fertilizer was not affected by the biochar addition, and cannot explain the increase in plant biomass in biochar treatments. Instead, the increased plant biomass at the higher biochar application rate was attributed to the enhanced uptake of N derived from soil. This suggests that the interactions between biochar and native soil organic N may be important determinants of the availability of soil N to plant growth.

Notable increases in nutrient concentrations in a shallow lake during seasonal ice growth

2016 ◽  
Vol 74 (12) ◽  
pp. 2773-2783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Fang ◽  
Li Changyou ◽  
Matti Leppäranta ◽  
Shi Xiaonghong ◽  
Zhao Shengnan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Water ◽  
Shallow Lake ◽  
Water Environment ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Middle Layer ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Unfrozen Water ◽  
Total N ◽  
Water And Sediment ◽  
Increased Risk

Nutrients may be eliminated from ice when liquid water is freezing, resulting in enhanced concentrations in the unfrozen water. The nutrients diluted from the ice may contribute to accumulated concentrations in sediment during winter and an increased risk of algae blooms during the following spring and summer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of ice cover on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in the water and sediment of a shallow lake, through an examination of Ulansuhai Lake, northern China, from the period of open water to ice season in 2011–2013. The N and P concentrations were between two and five times higher, and between two and eight times higher, than in unfrozen lakes, respectively. As the ice thickness grew, contents of total N and total P showed C-shaped profiles in the ice, and were lower in the middle layer and higher in the bottom and surface layers. Most of the nutrients were released from the ice to liquid water. The results confirm that ice can cause the nutrient concentrations in water and sediment during winter to increase dramatically, thereby significantly impacting on processes in the water environment of shallow lakes.

Experiences with computer simulation at two large wastewater treatment plants in northern Poland

2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 209-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Makinia ◽  
M. Swinarski ◽  
E. Dobiegala
Keyword(s):  
Computer Simulation ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Biological Nutrient Removal ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Total N ◽  
Northern Poland ◽  
Model Predictions ◽  
Steady State Simulation

Mathematical modelling and computer simulation have became a useful tool in evaluating the operation of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in terms of nutrient removal capability. In this study, steady-state simulation results for two large biological nutrient removal WWTPs are presented. The plants are located in two neighbouring cities Gdansk and Gdynia in northern Poland. Simulations were performed using a pre-compiled model and layouts (MUCT and Johannesburg processes) implemented in the GPS-X simulation package. The monthly average values of conventional parameters, such as COD, Total Suspended Solids, total N, N-NH4+, P-PO4− were used as input data. The measured effluent concentrations of COD, N-NH4+, N-NO3− and P-PO4− as well as reactor MLSS were compared with model predictions. During calibration, performed from the process engineering perspective, default values of only five model parameters were changed. The opportunities for further applications of such models in municipal WWTPs are discussed.

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