Nutrient removal and starch production through cultivation of Wolffia arrhiza

doi:10.1016/S1389-1723(99)89012-4

Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering

Volume 87, Issue 2, 1999, Pages 194-198

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1389-1723(99)89012-4 Get rights and content

Abstract

Wolffia arrhiza, a small weed found mostly in tropical and subtropical water environments, exhibits a high growth rate and consequently absorbs large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus. Its vegetative frond contains 40% protein on a dry weight basis and its turion, which is the dormant form, has a similar starch content. The applicability of this weed to nutrient removal from secondary-treated waste water combined with starch resource production was evaluated. The nitrogen and phosphorus removal capabilities of the vegetative frond and the optimal conditions for inducing of the formation of turions from harvested biomass of vegetative fronds for the production of starch were investigated using artificial nutrient solutions. The vegetative frond showed high contents of nitrogen (6–7% of the total dry weight) and phosphorus (1–2% of the total dry weight). The nutrient removal rates of the vegetative frond were estimated to be 126 mg-N/m²/d and 38 mg-P/m²/d under a continuous flow condition. For turion formation from the vegetative fronds, a low nutrient concentration and a high plant density were most effective. Under the optimum conditions, the starch production rate was estimated to be 6 g-starch/m² (nutrient removal tank)/d.

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The investigation was conducted for 60 days period to evaluate the production performance of GIFT fish in the Freshwater Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture system (FIMTA). GIFT was combined with floating weed Lemna minor as an inorganic extractive and freshwater bivalve Lamellidens marginalis as an organic extractive in 1000l Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic tanks. The treatments included GIFT alone as the control (C) treatment, GIFT and L. minor (T1), GIFT and L. marginalis (T2) and GIFT, L. minor and L. marginalis (T3) (FIMTA). GIFT fry were stocked at 40/m³, L. marginalis was stocked at 250 g/m³ respectively and L. minor was seeded 25% of the tank surface area. Growth, survival, water quality and physiological responses of GIFT were assessed in different treatments. A floating pelleted feed (30% crude protein) was supplied to GIFT at a rate of 4% body weight. Among growth variables, growth, biomass, survival, daily weight gain (DWG) and daily growth index (DGI) were found to be highest in T3. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed between different treatments in pH, electrical conductivity, DO, total hardness, and TDS among various water quality parameters. Transparency was found to be relatively high in T3. The control group had higher levels of inorganic nutrients such as ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate and potassium, whereas T3 and T1 had lower levels, respectively. Calcium and total hardness were found to be reduced in T2 and T3. Among physiological responses, haematological parameters like RBCs, WBCs and haemoglobin were reported to be higher in T1, T3 and T2 respectively. Control had elevated amounts of superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity, whereas T3 had the lowest levels. Significantly reduced catalase (CAT) activity was detected in T3. Acute stress parameters like cortisol and glucose levels were found to decrease in the T3. Immunity-based Nitro-blue tetrazolium (NBT) and Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were lower in control, while highest in FIMTA system. Serum concentrations for total protein, albumin, and globulin were reported to be elevated in T3. AST and ALT levels, which are measures of liver function, were better in the T3 than in other treatments. The overall results indicate that FIMTA of GIFT with L. minor and L. marginalis can improve water quality and physiological responses, raising survival and yield.
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The variation in chlorophyll content can be used to monitor the toxic effects of different exogenous compounds. These photosynthetic pigments are also sensitive to the type of nutrition and type of trophicity (Fujita et al., 1999). Carotenoids, which are divided into carotenes and xanthophylls, are other photosynthetic pigments that have been investigated.
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Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering

Abstract

References (13)

Assessment of the effectiveness of treatment of wastewater-contaminated aquatic system with Lemna gibba

Enzyme Microb. Technol.

Starch-based foamed materials-use and degradation properties

J. Macromol. Sci. Pure and Appl. Chem.

Growth of Spirodela polyrhiza in static sewage effluent

Aquat. Bot.

Absorption of nutritional salts by Spirodela polyrrhiza and its application to ecological salt control

Kagaku to Seibutsu

Comparative physiology of heterotrophic growth

Cited by (56)

Inclusion of organic and inorganic extractive species improves growth, survival and physiological responses of GIFT fish reared in freshwater integrated multi-trophic aquaculture system

Re-circulating indoor vertical farm: Technicalities of an automated duckweed biomass production system and protein feed product quality evaluation

Mechanisms, toxicity and optimal conditions - research on the removal of benzotriazoles from water using Wolffia arrhiza

Wolffia, a minimalist plant and synthetic biology chassis

Lamellidens and Wolffia canopy improves growth, feed utilization and welfare of Labeo rohita (Hamilton,1822) in integrated multi-trophic freshwater aquaculture system

Removal of phthalates and other contaminants from municipal wastewater during cultivation of Wolffia arrhiza

Regular paperNutrient removal and starch production through cultivation of Wolffia arrhiza

Abstract

Enzyme Microb. Technol.

Starch-based foamed materials-use and degradation properties

J. Macromol. Sci. Pure and Appl. Chem.

Growth of Spirodela polyrhiza in static sewage effluent

Aquat. Bot.

Absorption of nutritional salts by Spirodela polyrrhiza and its application to ecological salt control

Kagaku to Seibutsu

Comparative physiology of heterotrophic growth

Regular paper
Nutrient removal and starch production through cultivation of Wolffia arrhiza