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Removal of alkali metals and their sequestration in plants in constructed wetlands treating municipal sewage

  • WETLAND SERVICES AND MANAGEMENT
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Abstract

This study is aimed at retention of K, Na, Mg, and Ca in two constructed wetlands (CWs) in the Czech Republic, and on the evaluation of particular standing stocks in both above- and belowground plant biomass. The study revealed that CWs with horizontal subsurface flow are not effective in retention of studied elements. Removal of K, Na, Mg, and Ca averaged only 10.6, 7.4, 6.1, and 1.4%, respectively. In general, concentrations of studied elements in various parts of Phragmites australis and Phalaris arundinacea were found within the range of concentrations reported from both natural and CWs. Aboveground standing stocks for K, Na and Mg were comparable with those reported from natural stands for both Phalaris and Phragmites, but Ca aboveground standing stocks found in our study were lower compared to those found in several natural Phragmites wetlands. Aboveground to belowground standing stock ratio was generally >1.0. However, this amount formed usually <1% of the annual inflow load of particular elements. The results of this study provide comprehensive information on retention and sequestration of K, Na, Mg, and Ca in vegetation during municipal wastewater treatment in CWs with subsurface horizontal flow.

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by Grants no. QH81170 “Complex Evaluation of the Effect of Area Protection on Important Water Management Localities” from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic and no. ZF JU-MSM 6007665806 “Sustainable Methods in Agricultural Operations in Submontane and Mountainous Regions Aimed at Harmonization of Their Production and Extraproduction Functions” from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of the Czech Republic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Landscape Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 21, Prague 6, Czech Republic

    Jan Vymazal

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Studenstká 13, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

    Jaroslav Šveha

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  1. Jan Vymazal
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  2. Jaroslav Šveha
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Correspondence to Jan Vymazal.

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Guest editor: Chris B. Joyce / Wetland services and management

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Vymazal, J., Šveha, J. Removal of alkali metals and their sequestration in plants in constructed wetlands treating municipal sewage. Hydrobiologia 692, 131–143 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1018-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1018-z

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