Phytotechnology for eutrophic waters: Ecological approach to increase benefits. A review

Abstract

Phytotechnology utilizes plants as a strategic tool for resolving various environmental problems. One major problem of the lake in Indonesia is floating cage aquaculture practices that produce organic contamination which leads to water eutrophication. As a producer, plants play a central role in material and energy transfer in ecosystems, utilizing solar energy to perform photosynthesis and converting nutrients into biomass, which can be very useful for any purpose. A suitable plant can play phytoremediation function, while at the same time could produce biomass for feeding. Research by Research Centre for Limnology (RCL), Indonesian Institute of Sciences, using eutrophic lake water to grow minute duckweed (Lemna perpusilla Torr) has shown that the plant was able to grow while absorbing nutrients from the water. At the same time, cultivating the plant in an enclosed recirculated water pond enhanced double functions of water phytoremediation and biomass production for feed. It is also environmentally sound, as it could save water as much as 85 % as well as producing oxygen and uptake carbon dioxide, while the produced biomass can be used for additional feed to increase the pond productivity and efficiency. This study showed that phytotechnology is a reliable tool to remediate lake water eutrophication.