Plants as ecosystem engineers in subsurface-flow treatment wetlands

Tanner, Chris C.

doi:10.2166/wst.2001.0804

Cited by 270 publications

(139 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…The effects of plants in different types of constructed wetland systems has been a matter of controversy (Brix, 1994(Brix, , 1997Tanner, 2001), but many studies have found no or very little difference between the treatment performance of planted and unplanted controls in small scale mesocosm studies (Tanner et al, 2002). In the present study, we did, however, find statistically significant effects of plants on removal of all parameters.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 77%

Treatment of high-strength wastewater in tropical constructed wetlands planted with Sesbania sesban: Horizontal subsurface flow versus vertical downflow

Đan

Quang

Chiếm

et al. 2011

Ecological Engineering

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a b s t r a c tTreatment of various types of wastewaters is an urgent problem in densely populated areas of many tropical countries. We studied the potential of using Sesbania sesban, an N 2 -fixing shrub, in constructed wetland systems for the treatment of high-strength wastewater. A replicated horizontal subsurface flow system and a saturated vertical downflow system was established with planted and unplanted beds to assess the effects of system design and presence of plants on treatment performance. The systems were loaded with a mixture of domestic and pig farm wastewater at three hydraulic loading rates of 80, 160 and 320 mm d −1 . The S. sesban plants grew very well in the constructed wetland systems and produced 17.2-20.2 kg dry matter m −2 year −1 with a high nitrogen content. Mass removal rates and removal rate constants increased with loading rate, but at 320 mm d −1 the effluent quality was unacceptable and hydraulic problems appeared. Mass removal rates and removal rate constants were much higher than reported in other studies probably because of the high-strength wastewater, the high loading rates and the tropical conditions. Planted systems removed pollutants much more efficiently than the unplanted controls. Direct plant uptake constituted only up to 8% of the total-N removal and 2% of the P removal at the lowest loading rate, and was quantitatively of low importance compared to other removal processes. The significant effects of plants were therefore related more to their indirect effects on the removal processes. This study for the first time documents that S. sesban can be used in constructed wetland systems for the treatment of polluted water while at the same time producing a valuable N rich biomass that can be used for animal fodder or soil amendment.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 77%

Treatment of high-strength wastewater in tropical constructed wetlands planted with Sesbania sesban: Horizontal subsurface flow versus vertical downflow

Đan

Quang

Chiếm

et al. 2011

Ecological Engineering

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“…Light attenuation reduces algal growth [2] Insulation from frost in the winter [37][38][39] Insulation from radiation in the spring [3,40] Reduced wind velocity [7] Stabilization of the sediment surface [7] Other functions of plants in the CW (a) Physical effects of root structure: Several authors have argued that the most important mechanism by which plants contribute to the CW treatment process is not in uptake but rather in the physical effects of root structure combined with aeration [5,53]. Root growth is well known to affect some soil hydraulic qualities [4,54].…”

Section: Microclimatic Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Plants in a Constructed Wetland: Current and New Perspectives

Shelef

Gross

Rachmilevitch

2013

Water

170

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Abstract:The role of plants in the treatment of effluents by constructed wetland (CW) systems is under debate. Here, we review ways in which plants can affect CW processes and suggest two novel functions for plants in CWs. The first is salt phytoremediation by halophytes. We have strong evidence that halophytic plants can reduce wastewater salinity by accumulating salts in their tissues. Our studies have shown that Bassia indica, a halophytic annual, is capable of salt phytoremediation, accumulating sodium to up to 10% of its dry weight. The second novel use of plants in CWs is as phytoindicators of water quality. We demonstrate that accumulation of H 2 O 2 , a marker for plant stress, is reduced in the in successive treatment stages, where water quality is improved. It is recommended that monitoring and management of CWs consider the potential of plants as phytoremediators and phytoindicators.

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“…Znaczny stopień zanieczyszczenia materiału filtracyjnego stwierdzano też w systemach korzeniowych, podczas gdy w oczyszczalniach hydrofitowych o złożach piaskowo-żwirowych nie stwierdzono dużej akumulacji zanieczyszczeń w ciągu okresu 15 lat eksploatacji. Największą zawartość zanieczyszczeń obserwowano w miejscach dopływu substancji, któ-re usuwane są na drodze filtracji oraz w miejscach, gdzie wskutek obumierania biomasy powstawał humus [5].…”

Section: Wprowadzenieunclassified

Efficiency of removal organic and biogenic compounds in hydrophyte bioreactor using biopreparation

Warężak¹,

Myszograj²,

Dera³

2014

JCEEA

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Stosowanie biopreparatów w oczyszczalniach ścieków wpływa na optymalizację rozkładu zanieczyszczeń organicznych w ściekach (odchody, papier, resztki roślinne, tłuszcz), lepszą biodegradację środków piorących i myjących, a także eliminację przykrych zapachów. Celem badań opisanych w artykule była intensyfikacja pracy oczyszczalni hydrofitowej z wykorzystaniem biopreparatu, którego głównym składnikiem jest biohumus. Uzyskane wyniki potwierdziły wpływ dawkowanych substancji humusowych na wzrost efektywności usuwania związków azotu i fosforu, odpowiednio o 9 i11%. Poprawa sprawności oczyszczania ścieków uzyskana w krótkim okresie eksploatacji złoża hydrofitowego potwierdza, że koloidy próchnicze (związki humusowe) dozowane wraz z biopreparatem mają znaczne zdolności sorpcyjne, buforujące i zwiększają aktywność enzymatyczną mikroorganizmów Słowa kluczowe: oczyszczalnia hydrofitowa; efektywność; związki humusowe; biopreparat WprowadzenieW ostatnich 20 latach nastąpiła znaczna poprawa wyposażenia polskich gmin w obiekty i urządzenia infrastruktury wodno-ściekowej. Uznano, że takie działania są warunkiem koniecznym przemian i ożywienia procesów rozwoju społeczno-gospodarczego zgodnego z zasadą zrównoważonego rozwoju, wzro-1 Autor do korespondencji: Tomasz Warężak: Instytut Nowych Technologii Inżynierii Środowiska,

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Plants as ecosystem engineers in subsurface-flow treatment wetlands

Cited by 270 publications

References 39 publications

Treatment of high-strength wastewater in tropical constructed wetlands planted with Sesbania sesban: Horizontal subsurface flow versus vertical downflow

Treatment of high-strength wastewater in tropical constructed wetlands planted with Sesbania sesban: Horizontal subsurface flow versus vertical downflow

Role of Plants in a Constructed Wetland: Current and New Perspectives

Efficiency of removal organic and biogenic compounds in hydrophyte bioreactor using biopreparation

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