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Hindi Special Issue Article
Removal of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Prodiamine from a Container Nursery by a Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetland
| G. Kim Stearman*, Dennis B. George and Lisa D. Hutchings | |
| Center for the Management, Utilization and Protection of Water Resources, Tennessee Technological University, USA | |
| Corresponding Author : | G. Kim Stearman Center for the Management Utilization and Protection of Water Resources Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN 38505, USA Tel: 931-372-3528 Fax: 931-372-6346 E-mail: gkstearman@tntech.edu |
| Received March 24, 2012; Accepted May 07, 2012; Published May 09, 2012 | |
| Citation: Stearman GK, George DB, Hutchings LD (2012) Removal of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Prodiamine from a Container Nursery by a Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetland. J Bioremed Biodegrad S7:002. doi: 10.4172/2155-6199.S7-002 | |
| Copyright: © 2012 Stearman GK, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. | |
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Abstract
Plant nurseries apply large amounts of agricultural chemicals that may run off causing problems to surface water. Constructed wetlands have been used to treat agricultural chemical runoff. A 128 m2 gravel subsurface flow constructed wetland was designed and installed at Pirtle’s Nursery in Smithville, TN. The wetland was 46 cm deep and contained an estimated 16.5 m3 of water. Softstem bulrush (Scirpus validus), cattails (Typha latifolia L.) and juncus (Juncus spp.) were planted in the wetland. A standpipe controlled water level in the wetland, and a bypass pipe averted heavy flow. Total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and the pesticide prodiamine were measured from the influent and effluent water during daily irrigation events. A valve controlled flow into the wetlands to produce computed nominal hydraulic retention times of 0.7, 1.2 and 1.9 d. A Stevens Chart Recorder measured the influent water level to develop a flow versus water stage correlation at specific valve settings. Mean N removal was 70 to 72% of total influent N. Mean P removal varied from -2 to 10% of total influent P. Mean prodiamine removal ranged from 49 to 65% of total influent prodiamine. The wetland required little maintenance other than occasional sediment removal after heavy rain and occasional sediment flushing of the inflow pipe to maintain flow.
