Biomass, nutrient, and trace element accumulation and partitioning in cattail (Typha latifolia L.) during wetland phytoremediation of municipal biosolids / Nicholson N. Jeke, Francis Zvomuya, Nazim Cicek, Lisette Ross, and Pascal Badiou.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 1548-1549).

Biomass and contaminant accumulation and partitioning in
plants determine the harvest stage for optimum contaminant
uptake during phytoremediation of municipal biosolids. This
wetland microcosm bioassay characterized accumulation and
partitioning of biomass, nutrients (N and P), and trace elements
(Zn, Cu, Cr, and Cd) in cattail (Typha latifolia L.) in a growth
room. Four cattail seedlings were transplanted into each 20-L
plastic pail containing 3.9 kg (dry wt.) biosolids from an endof-
life municipal lagoon. A 10-cm-deep water column was
maintained above the 12-cm-thick biosolids layer. Plants were
harvested every 14 d over a period of 126 d for determination
of aboveground biomass (AGB) and belowground biomass
(BGB) yields, along with contaminant concentrations in these
plant tissues. Logistic model fits to biomass yield data indicated
no significant difference in asymptotic yield between AGB and
BGB. Aboveground biomass accumulated significantly greater
amounts of N and P and lower amounts of trace elements than
BGB. Maximum N accumulation in AGB occurred 83 d after
transplanting (DAT), and peak P uptake occurred at 86 DAT.
Harvesting at maximum aboveground accumulation removed
(percent of the initial element concentration in the biosolids) 4%
N, 3% P, 0.05% Zn, 0.6% Cu, 0.1% Cd, and 0.2% Cr. Therefore, under
the conditions of this study, phytoremediation would be most
effective if cattail is harvested at 86 DAT. These results contribute
toward the identification of the harvest stage that will optimize
contaminant uptake and enhance in situ phytoremediation of
biosolids using cattail.