Resumen de Phragmites australis and Schoenoplectus californicus in constructed wetlands: Development and nutrient uptake
The goal of this work was to evaluate the development and nutrient uptake by Phragmites australis (Phr) and Schoenoplectus californicus (Sch) in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HSSF) designed for wastewater treatment. Four HSSF systems with a surface area of 4.5 m² were planted with Phr and Sch. Wastewater was fed for 3 years at 1.6 to 4.8 g N m-2 d-1 and 0.2 to 0.6 g P m-2 d-1. Nutrients (total nitrogen-TN and total phosphorus-TP), organic matter (chemical oxygen demand-COD) and solids (total suspended solids-TSS) were evaluated. Nitrogen and phosphorus uptake were 7.52 g N m-2 and 0.83 g P m-2 for HSSF-Sch and 11.39 g N m-2 and 0.23 g P m-2 for HSSF-Phr. Showing a development of biomass of HSSF-Sch and HSSF-Phr were 1782 g DW m-2 and 385 g DW m-2, respectively. Under these conditions, the removal efficiencies were 55-63% of COD and 88-92% of TSS for HSSF-Phr and 46-66% of COD and 83-91% of TSS for HSSF-Sch. TN removal was 23-24% for HSSF-Phr and 18-23% for HSSF-Sch. At the same time, removal for TP was -1 to 4% for HSSF-Phr and for HSSF-Sch was 9-13%.
