Effectiveness of Nutrient Phytoremediation via Watercress, Basil, Dill,

1
Effectiveness of Nutrient Phytoremediation via
Watercress, Basil, Dill, Lettuce from
Flow-Through Aquaculture EffluentWest Virginia
University, Department of Civil Environmental
EngineeringDerek J. Dyer, Karen M. Buzby, Ph.D.,
Roger C. Viadero, Jr., Ph.D.

• Results Discussion
• The low water velocity low plant density (LVLD)
  watercress treatment was most effective at the
  removal of nitrate (8.8) and ammonia (7.1).
• The low water velocity high plant density (LVHD)
  watercress treatment was most effective at the
  removal of 4.9 of the phosphate.
• The lettuce treatment was most effective at the
  removal of 11.2 of the ammonia.
• The high water velocity high plant density (HVHD)
  treatment combination allowed for the greatest
  plant growth.
• Environmental conditions in the aquaculture
  hanger and the summer and fall were most
  beneficial to nitrate removal via watercress.
• Environmental conditions in the greenhouse and
  the winter and spring were most beneficial to
  ammonia and phosphate removal via watercress.
• Temperature and light intensity variations were
  identified as factors affecting the uptake of
  different nutrients via the watercress and other
  plant species.

• Background
• Preliminary studies were conducted between June
  2005 and June 2006 to determine if watercress
  (Nasturtium officinale), basil (Ocimum
  basilicum), dill (Anethum graveolens), and
  lettuce (Lactuca sativa) could be used to reduce
  nutrients from aquaculture effluent in sufficient
  concentrations to be considered an effective
  remediation technique.
• A research site was established adjacent to an
  aquaculture facility located at the WVU Reymann
  Memorial Farm in Wardensville, WV.

• Investigative Approach
• Construction of a novel plywood reinforced
  aquatic phytoremediation and plant cultivation
  channel and greenhouse system was completed
  between June and December 2005.
• Water velocity, plant density and plant species
  were varied to establish operational conditions.
  Each treatment was conducted in triplicate.
• Water samples were measured at 3 week intervals
  for the nutrients NH3, NO3-, NO2-, and PO43-.
• Temperature and light intensity were monitored
  constantly throughout the studies.