Journal article
Root and Shoot Biomass Growth of Constructed Floating Wetlands Plants in Saline Environments
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol.16(2), 275
2019
Abstract
Constructed Floating Wetlands (CFWs) are increasingly being used globally in freshwater environments such as urban lakes and ponds to remove pollutants from urban stormwater runoff. However, to date there has been limited research into the use and performance of these systems in saline environments. This study compared the root and shoot biomass growth and nutrient uptake of five different plant species, Chrysopogon zizanioides, Baumea juncea, Isolepis nodosa, Phragmites australis and Sarcocornia quinqueflora, in three different saltwater treatments over a 12-week period. The aim of the study was to identify which of the plant species may be most suitable for use in CFWs in saline environments. Plant nutrient uptake testing revealed that Phragmites australis had the greatest percentage increase (1473-2477%) of Nitrogen mass in the shoots in all treatments. Sarcocornia quinqueflora also had impressive Nitrogen mass increase in saltwater showing an increase of 966% (0.208±0.134 g). This suggests that the use of Phragmites australis and Sarcocornia quinqueflora plants in CFWs installed in saline water bodies, with regular harvesting of the shoot mass, may significantly reduce Nitrogen concentrations in the water. Isolepis nodosa had the greatest percentage increase (112% or 0.018±0.020 g) of Phosphorous mass in the shoots in the saltwater treatment. Baumea juncea had the greatest percentage increase (315% or 0.026±0.012 g) of Phosphorous mass in the roots in the saltwater treatment. This suggests that the use of Isolepis nodosa and Baumea juncea plants in CFWs installed in saline water bodies may significantly reduce Phosphorous concentrations in the water if there was a way to harvest both the shoots above and the roots below the CFWs. The study is continuing, and it is anticipated that more information will be available on CFW plants installed in saline environments in the near future.
Details
- Title
- Root and Shoot Biomass Growth of Constructed Floating Wetlands Plants in Saline Environments
- Authors
- Oriana Sanicola (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - School of Science & EngineeringTerry Lucke (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - School of Science & EngineeringMichael J Stewart (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - School of Science & EngineeringKatharina Tondera (Author) - Université Bretagne Loire, FranceChristopher Walker (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - School of Science & Engineering
- Publication details
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol.16(2), 275; 11
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Date published
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.3390/ijerph16020275
- ISSN
- 1661-7827
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Organisation Unit
- Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering; School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450752902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
14 File views/ downloads
242 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Environmental Sciences
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites