A Laboratory Simulation Test of Three Macrophyte Species to Reduce Total Phosphorus from Eutrophical Water

A manipulative indoor experiment was conducted to study the removal effect on total phosphorus (TP) by three hydrophyte plant species, Iris sanguinea, Acorus calamus, and Iris pseudacorus. The nutrient solution consisted two levels of phosphorus (P) treatment [low (1 mg L-1 P) and high (4 mg L-1)]. The experiment results show that all three plant species had an active effect on the phosphorous removal, and abilities of remove phosphorous vary among different macrophyte species. After 28days growing in the water, the removal rates on TP, at the low level (T1) treatment, were 88.6%, 87.66% and 91.68% by Iris sanguinea, Acorus calamus, and Iris pseudacorus, while 86.77%, 53.51% and 94.42% at the high level treatment (T2). Speed of the pollutants decreasing become slower over time, and removal effects of TP was more obvious during the first 3 weeks. Keywords: hydrophytes, TP, removal efficient, eutrophical