Wetland plants found to significantly reduce nitrogen and phosphorus in sewage
Wetland plants like Typha orientalis, Lemna minor, and Ceratophyllum demersum can help clean up polluted water by reducing nitrogen and phosphorus levels. The plants were tested in different water conditions, and they were found to be very effective at removing these pollutants. The plants removed between 71% to 96% of ammonia and nitrate nitrogen, and between 79% to 94% of phosphate. The best combination of plants for total nitrogen removal was Typha orientalis, Lemna minor, and Ceratophyllum demersum. The plants also helped change the microbial balance in the water, which further improved the water quality. Overall, wetland plants can be a great natural solution for cleaning up polluted water.