Seasonal potential of Pistia stratiotes in nutrient removal to eliminate eutrophication in Al-Sero Drain (South Nile Delta, Egypt)

• Published in: Journal of freshwater ecology Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 173 - 187
• Main Authors: Ali, Esmat F., Galal, Tarek M., Hassan, Loutfy M., Al-Yasi, Hatim M., Dakhil, Mohammed A., Eid, Ebrahem M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Taylor & Francis 01.01.2021; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Abundance; Aquatic plants; Biomass; Body organs; Calcium; Drains; Environmental quality; Eutrophic environments; Eutrophic waters; Eutrophication; Floating plants; Freshwater plants; Macrophytes; Magnesium; Mediterranean; Mineral nutrients; Mowing; Nutrient concentrations; Nutrient removal; Nutrients; Organs; Pistia stratiotes; Plant biomass; Plant organs; Shoots; Water analysis; water characteristics; water lettuce; Water sampling; Watercourses; Egypt
• ISSN: 0270-5060; 2156-6941
• DOI: 10.1080/02705060.2021.1915397

The present study was conducted to investigate the potential of the free-floating macrophytes Pistia stratiotes to remediate nutrients and restore the eutrophic drain (Al-Sero Drain), South Nile Delta, Egypt. Plant and water samples were collected monthly for ten months using three randomly distributed quadrats in each of three sites. Monthly significant variation in all investigated water nutrients was recorded. The plant biomass showed bell-shaped distribution, with the lowest shoot and root biomass during May, while their peaks were during September. The plant shoots accumulated higher concentrations of most nutrient elements, except Mg, than the roots. The order of nutrients concentration (%) in P. stratiotes shoot was K > N > Ca > Na > Mg > P, while in the root was K > N > Na > Ca > Mg > P. Most nutrients standing stock (g/m −2 ) had the same biomass trend with the minimum during May and the maximum during August-October, which is the potential period for mowing the plant to remediate the highest nutrients and restore the eutrophic watercourses. Most investigated nutrients (except Ca) content in water were significantly correlated to their concentration in the different plant organs, which in turn provide a quantitative assessment of the environmental quality that suggests the potential use of this plant as a biomonitor of nutrient elements in eutrophic watercourses.