title: Evaluation of the giant reed (Arundo donax) in horizontal subsurface flow wetlands for the treatment of recirculating aquaculture system effluent.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Two emergent macrophytes, Arundo donax and Phragmites australis, were established in experimental subsurface flow, gravel-based constructed wetlands (CWs) receiving untreated recirculating aquaculture system wastewater.
  
  
  METHODS
  The hydraulic loading rate was 3.75 cm day(-1). Many of the monitored water quality parameters (biological oxygen demand [BOD], total suspended solids [TSS], total phosphorus [TP], total nitrogen [TN], total ammoniacal nitrogen [TAN], nitrate nitrogen [NO(3)], and Escherichia coli) were removed efficiently by the CWs, to the extent that the CW effluent was suitable for use on human food crops grown for raw produce consumption under Victorian state regulations and also suitable for reuse within aquaculture systems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BOD, TSS, TP, TN, TAN, and E. coli removal in the A. donax and P. australis beds was 94%, 67%, 96%, 97%, 99.6%, and effectively 100% and 95%, 87%, 95%, 98%, 99.7%, and effectively 100%, respectively, with no significant difference (p > 0.007) in performance between the A. donax and P. australis CWs. In this study, as expected, the aboveground yield of A. donax top growth (stems + leaves) (15.0 ± 3.4 kg wet weight) was considerably more than the P. australis beds (7.4 ± 2.8 kg wet weight). The standing crop produced in this short (14-week) trial equates to an estimated 125 and 77 t  ha(-1) year(-1) biomass (dry weight) for A. donax and P. australis, respectively (assuming that plant growth is similar across a 250-day (September-April) growing season and a single-cut, annual harvest).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The similarity of the performance of the A. donax- and P. australis-planted beds indicates that either may be used in horizontal subsurface flow wetlands treating aquaculture wastewater, although the planting of A. donax provides additional opportunities for secondary income streams through utilization of the energy-rich biomass produced.
authors: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, P.O. Box 423, Warrnambool, Australia.
authors: Shaharah Mohd
authors: SM
authors: Idris
authors: Paul L
authors: PL
authors: Jones
authors: Scott A
authors: SA
authors: Salzman
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Croatto
authors: Graeme
authors: G
authors: Allinson
mesh_terms: D017756:Aquaculture; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006109:Poaceae / Q000254:growth & development*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014739:Victoria; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D060753:Water Quality / Q000592:standards*; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical