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Potential nitrification and denitrification on different surfaces in a constructed treatment wetland

Bastviken, S K ; Eriksson, Peder LU ; Martins, I ; Neto, J M ; Leonardson, Lars LU and Tonderski, K (2003) In Journal of Environmental Quality 32(6). p.2414-2420
Abstract
Improved understanding of the importance of different surfaces in supporting attached nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria is essential if we are to optimize the N removal capacity of treatment wetlands. The aim of this study was therefore to examine the nitrifying and denitrifying capacity of different surfaces in a constructed treatment wetland and to assess the relative importance of these surfaces for overall N removal in the wetland. Intact sediment cores, old pine and spruce twigs, shoots of Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.), and filamentous macro-algae were collected in July and November 1999 in two basins of the wetland system. One of the basins had been constructed on land that contained lots of wood debris,... (More)
Improved understanding of the importance of different surfaces in supporting attached nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria is essential if we are to optimize the N removal capacity of treatment wetlands. The aim of this study was therefore to examine the nitrifying and denitrifying capacity of different surfaces in a constructed treatment wetland and to assess the relative importance of these surfaces for overall N removal in the wetland. Intact sediment cores, old pine and spruce twigs, shoots of Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.), and filamentous macro-algae were collected in July and November 1999 in two basins of the wetland system. One of the basins had been constructed on land that contained lots of wood debris, particularly twigs of coniferous trees. Potential nitrification was measured using the isotope-dilution technique, and potential denitrification was determined using the acetylene-inhibition technique in laboratory microcosm incubations. Nitrification rates were highest on the twigs. These rates were three and 100 times higher than in the sediment and on Eurasian watermilfoil, respectively. Potential denitrification rates were highest in the sediment. These rates were three times higher than on the twigs and 40 times higher than on Eurasian watermilfoil. The distribution of denitrifying bacteria was most likely due to the availability of organic material, with higher denitrification rates in the sediment than on surfaces in the water column. Our results indicate that denitrification, and particularly nitrification, in treatment wetlands could be significantly increased by addition of surfaces such as twigs. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Environmental Quality
volume
32
issue
6
pages
2414 - 2420
publisher
American Society of Agronomy
external identifiers
  • wos:000186574700053
  • scopus:0242498643
ISSN
0047-2425
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3cdfa979-327c-46fc-bba2-3c4795931d9d (old id 136780)
alternative location
http://jeq.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/32/6/2414
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:13:17
date last changed
2022-03-28 21:56:50
@article{3cdfa979-327c-46fc-bba2-3c4795931d9d,
  abstract     = {{Improved understanding of the importance of different surfaces in supporting attached nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria is essential if we are to optimize the N removal capacity of treatment wetlands. The aim of this study was therefore to examine the nitrifying and denitrifying capacity of different surfaces in a constructed treatment wetland and to assess the relative importance of these surfaces for overall N removal in the wetland. Intact sediment cores, old pine and spruce twigs, shoots of Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.), and filamentous macro-algae were collected in July and November 1999 in two basins of the wetland system. One of the basins had been constructed on land that contained lots of wood debris, particularly twigs of coniferous trees. Potential nitrification was measured using the isotope-dilution technique, and potential denitrification was determined using the acetylene-inhibition technique in laboratory microcosm incubations. Nitrification rates were highest on the twigs. These rates were three and 100 times higher than in the sediment and on Eurasian watermilfoil, respectively. Potential denitrification rates were highest in the sediment. These rates were three times higher than on the twigs and 40 times higher than on Eurasian watermilfoil. The distribution of denitrifying bacteria was most likely due to the availability of organic material, with higher denitrification rates in the sediment than on surfaces in the water column. Our results indicate that denitrification, and particularly nitrification, in treatment wetlands could be significantly increased by addition of surfaces such as twigs.}},
  author       = {{Bastviken, S K and Eriksson, Peder and Martins, I and Neto, J M and Leonardson, Lars and Tonderski, K}},
  issn         = {{0047-2425}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{2414--2420}},
  publisher    = {{American Society of Agronomy}},
  series       = {{Journal of Environmental Quality}},
  title        = {{Potential nitrification and denitrification on different surfaces in a constructed treatment wetland}},
  url          = {{http://jeq.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/32/6/2414}},
  volume       = {{32}},
  year         = {{2003}},
}