Effect of Plant Buffer Zone–Antifouling Curtain Wall on Reducing Non-Point Source Pollution in Paddy Fields, China

Abstract

In view of the nitrogen and phosphorus non-point source pollution caused by paddy field drainage in southern China, two paddy fields in Nanjing and Yuyao cities were selected to study the effect of plant buffer zone–antifouling curtain walls on reducing non-point source pollution. The results showed that the designed plant buffer zone–antifouling curtain wall systems could significantly reduce the concentration of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) in drainage of the two paddy fields. Compared with paddy field drainage in Nanjing, the interception rate of TN in the plant buffer zone and antifouling curtain wall were 33.0% and 59.3%, respectively; the removal rates of TP were about 18.4% and 40.3%, respectively. In addition, the contents of ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) were also significantly reduced. For the Yuyao experimental area, compared to the paddy field without the soil plant buffer zone (the control), the concentration of each indicator in the discharge water of the paddy fields with the soil plant buffer system operation mode was significantly reduced, the rejection rate of the TP, TN, total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), NO3-N and NH3-N were 64.28%, 70.66%, 83.73%, 65.22% and 80.69%, respectively. In summary, the construction of a plant buffer zone–antifouling curtain wall (soil plant buffer zone) has an obvious effect on the reduction of non-point source pollution in paddy fields, which could improve yield and fertilizer utilization. The plant buffer zone–antifouling curtain wall could be popularized and applied in local areas and southern China.