Growth and nutrient uptake by Schoenoplectus californicus (C.A. Méyer) Sójak in a constructed wetland fed with swine slurry

Abstract

Schoenoplectus californicus (C.A. Meyer), Soják is one of the plants most used to treat wastewater in a constructed wetland. Our objective is to study the growth and nutrient uptake of Schoenoplectus californicus Cyperaceae in a constructed wetland fed with swine slurry. The methodology used to evaluate the growth of the Schoenoplectus californicus Cyperaceae was to evaluate the allometric, relative abundance and biomass of the plants in the period 2009 2010. The results show that Schoenoplectus californicus had allometric growth between 31.2 to 98.4 and relative abundance between 21 to 108 individuals m-2, during the fall and spring seasons, respectively. These results are influenced by the nitrogen content (between 0.05 to 2.0 kg N ha-1 d-1) present in the constructed wetland. In this same period, the increase in Schoenoplectus californicus biomass (~28%) is related to a decrease in nitrogen loading between 2.0 to 0.05 kg N ha-1 d-1. Aboveground biomass was greater (500 to 724 g m-2) than belowground biomass (4.8 to 22.7 g m-2). Due to nutrient translocation in spring-summer, the N:P ratio aboveground ranged from 9 to 16, while belowground the ratio varied from 7 to 10.