Seasonal potential of Phragmites australis in nutrient removal to eliminate the eutrophication in Lake Burullus, Egypt

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the potential of the emergent macrophytes Phragmites australis to remediate nutrients and restore an eutrophic wetland (Lake Burullus, Egypt). The plant was sampled monthly for one year from 6 sites distributed equally along the northern and southern parts of this lake. Monthly significant variation in all investigated sediment and water nutrients for the northern and southern sites was recorded. The biomass of P. australis in the southern sites was greater than that of the northern sites; in addition, the above-ground biomass was greater than the below-ground biomass. The above-ground biomass increased from February until it reached its maximum during August and then decreased again. Likewise, the highest nutrient concentrations in the different tissues were recorded at the beginning of the growing season during winter and early spring and then gradually decreased with increasing plant biomass. Moreover, the nutrient content (g/m2) increased from the early growing season (February) and reached its peak during April–August and then decreased. Based on our results, P. australis could be used for the extraction of nutrients to reduce the eutrophication in Lake Burullus, if the above-ground biomass is harvested at its maximum value in August, as was the case regarding the maximum content of most nutrients.