Efficiency and plant indication of nitrogen and phosphorus removal in constructed wetlands: A field-scale study in a frost-free area

Abstract

Frost-free areas have suitable climate for wetland plant growth and constructed wetlands (CW) technology. Information on the quantification of plant biomass and uptake efficiency in field-scale CWs is limited in these climates. The removal efficiency of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total suspended solids (TSS) in wastewater from sewage plants, domestic sewage, and an industrial park in 15 rural and urban CWs in Guangdong Province, China, with an average temperature of 30 °C was evaluated. The effects of influent concentration, hydraulic load, the wastewater's physicochemical properties, operating conditions, and plant uptake were analysed. The mean removal rates were 40.0%, 45.2%, 41.1%, and 71.7% for TN, TP, COD, and TSS, respectively, which were higher than the removal load of the field-scale CWs in temperate regions. Removal loads of TN, TP, COD, and TSS were highest in CWs that have been operating for 5–6 years, treating wastewater volumes of over 1 m3/m2·d. The removal efficiency was mainly related to the inflow concentration and less affected by the type of CWs. Nutrient accumulation trends were primarily linked to influent concentrations (TN: r2 = 0.89, P = 0.007; TP: r2 = 0.96, P = 0.001) and plant biomass (TN: r2 = 0.96, P = 0.001; TP: r2 = 0.92, P = 0.004). Plant biomass contributed 2%–29% and 2%–70%, respectively, to removing N and P in CWs. The average uptake concentration of N and P in aboveground plant organs (15.66 ± 4.44 mg N/g, 2.15 ± 1.18 mg P/g) was generally higher than that of other temperate plants. A strong relationship between TN and TP in the biomass was also observed; however, the relationship is only restricted by the influent TP concentration. Arundo donax is well-adapted for nutrient accumulation and adaptation and is an ideal wetland plant to purify wastewater in frost-free climates.