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a Wetland Biogeochemistry Lab., Soil and Water Science Dep., Univ. of Florida; 106 Newell Hall, P.O. Box 110510, Gainesville, FL 32611
b Dep. of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Wetland and Aquatic Biogeochemistry Lab., Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA 70803
* Corresponding author (jrwhite{at}lsu.edu).
Received for publication March 29, 2007. Constructed treatment wetlands are a relatively low-cost alternative used for tertiary treatment of wastewater. Phosphorus (P) removal capacity of these wetlands may decline, however, as P is released from the accrued organic soils. Little research has been done on methods to restore the treatment capacity of aging constructed wetlands. One possibility is the seasonal addition of alum during periods of low productivity and nutrient removal. Our 3-mo mesocosm study investigated the effectiveness of alum in immobilizing P during periods of reduced treatment efficiency, as well as the effects on soil biogeochemistry. Eighteen mesocosms were established, triplicate experimental and control units for Typha sp., Schoenoplectus californicus, and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) (Najas guadalupensis dominated). Alum was slowly dripped to the water column of the experimental units at a rate of 0.91 g Al m–2 d–1 and water quality parameters were monitored. Soil cores were collected at experiment initiation and completion and sectioned into 0- to 5- and 5- to 10-cm intervals for characterization. The alum floc remained in the 0- to 5-cm surface soil, however, soil pH and microbial parameters were impacted throughout the upper 10 cm with the lowest pH found in the Typha treatment. Plant type did not impact most biogeochemical parameters; however, data were more variable in the SAV mesocosms. Amorphous Al was greater in the surface soil of alum-treated mesocosms, inversely correlated with soil pH and microbial biomass P in both soil layers. Microbial activity was also suppressed in the surface soil of alum-treated mesocosms. This research suggests alum may significantly affect the biogeochemistry of treatment wetlands and needs further investigation.
Abbreviations: EAV, emergent aquatic vegetation • OEW, Orlando Easterly Wetland • Pi, inorganic P • Po, organic P • SAV, submerged aquatic vegetation • TP, total phosphorus
This article has been cited by other articles:
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  L. M. Malecki-Brown and J. R. White Effect of Aluminum-Containing Amendments on Phosphorus Sequestration of Wastewater Treatment Wetland Soil Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., May 1, 2009; 73(3): 852 - 861. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 M. A. Belmont, J. R. White, and K. R. Reddy Phosphorus Sorption and Potential Phosphorus Storage in Sediments of Lake Istokpoga and the Upper Chain of Lakes, Florida, USA J. Environ. Qual., March 25, 2009; 38(3): 987 - 996. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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L. M. Malecki-Brown, J. R. White, and M. Sees Alum Application to Improve Water Quality in a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Wetland J. Environ. Qual., February 25, 2009; 38(2): 814 - 821. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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J. R. White, L. M. Gardner, M. Sees, and R. Corstanje The Short-Term Effects of Prescribed Burning on Biomass Removal and the Release of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in a Treatment Wetland J. Environ. Qual., October 23, 2008; 37(6): 2386 - 2391. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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