Comparison of useful terrestrial and aquatic plant species for removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from domestic wastewater

• Published in: Soil science and plant nutrition (Tokyo) Vol. 44; no. 4; pp. 599 - 607
• Main Authors: Abe, K. (National Agriculture Research Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki (Japan)), Ozaki, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Taylor & Francis Group 01.12.1998; Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Applied sciences; AZOTE; BASURA DOMESTICA; Biological and medical sciences; Biological treatment of waters; Biotechnology; Environment and pollution; Exact sciences and technology; FOSFORO; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; HIBISCUS CANNABINUS; HOUSEHOLD WASTES; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Italian ryegrass; kenaf; LOLIUM MULTIFLORUM; NITROGEN; nitrogen and phosphorus removal; NITROGENO; ORDURES MENAGERES; Other wastewaters; papyrus; PHOSPHORE; PHOSPHORUS; plant bed filter; Pollution; Soil and water pollution; Soil science; TRAITEMENT DES EAUX USEES; TRATAMIENTO DE AGUAS RESIDUALES; WASTEWATER TREATMENT; Wastewaters; Water treatment and pollution; Malvaceae; Biotechnology; Monocotyledones; Cyperus papyrus; Lolium multiflorum; Fiber crop; Gramineae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Hibiscus cannabinus; Aquatic plant; Biological treatment; Species; terrestrial plants; Terrestrial environment; Interspecific comparison; Phosphorus; artificial wetlands; Vegetation effect; Nitrogen; Experimental study; Dephosphorization; Domestic waste water; pland bed filters; Cyperaceae; Water quality; Environment; Spermatophyta; Fodder crop; Biofilter; Waste water purification; Denitration
• ISSN: 0038-0768; 1747-0765
• DOI: 10.1080/00380768.1998.10414483

To develop a low cost and energy-saving wastewater treatment technique in combination with resource recycling and amenity functions, we constructed a plant bed filter ditch in which useful terrestrial and aquatic plants can be utilized for nitrogen and phosphorus removal from wastewater. Screening studies were conducted to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of 20 kinds of plant species which are economically important or exhibit on aesthetic value, including 13 terrestrial species, for domestic wastewater treatment. Artificial wastewater containing 20 mg L(-1) of N and 3.3 mg L(-1) of P, was supplied to the ditch at the rate of about 1.41-2.08 g m(-2)d(-1) for N and 0.20-0.33 g m(-2)d(-1) for P. The experiments were performed in a glass house with windows opened from April to November. The ditches showing high N and P removal rates were planted with plants which exhibited high biomass production rates. In the case of the papyrus ditch, N and P removal rates exceeded 0.8 g m(-2)d(-1) for N and 0.15 g m(-2)d(-1) for P from late spring to autumn, in the case of the kenaf ditch and sorghum ditch, from summer to autumn and in the case of the Italian ryegrass ditch and barley ditch, in early spring. These findings indicated that efficient wastewater treatment can be performed consistently except in the winter season, by cultivating these plants in an appropriate combination in the ditches