The aquatic fern Azolla as a natural plant-factory for ammonia removal from fish-breeding fresh wastewater.

Abstract

This study has investigated the potential of an Azolla-Anabaena symbiosis, a marriage between the cyanobacterium Anabaena azollae and the aquatic fern (Azolla), to remove ammonia from freshwater fish breeding areas. Experiments were carried out under artificial light of 20, 70, and 140μmolm(-2) s(-1). We investigated three different water temperatures for the growing Azolla, ranging from sub-optimal to optimal temperatures (15, 22, and 28°C). The capability of Azolla to remove ammonia from wastewater was demonstrated, and the highest ammonia concentration tolerated by the symbiosis between Azolla-anabaena without any toxic effect on the aquatic ferns was ascertained. The shortest time taken to remove ammonia from wastes, 2.5cm deep and at 28°C, was 40min. The ammonia removal rate (A RR) was both light and temperature dependent and the highest rate (6.394h(-1)) was attained at light intensity of 140μmolm(-2)s(-1) and at a temperature of 28°C; the lowest (0.947h(-1)) was achieved at 20μmolm(-2) s(-1) and 15°C. The depth of the fish-wastewater pool also affected the A RR with the relation between A RR and the depth being a hyperbolic function.