Effects of plants competition on critical bacteria selection and pollutants dynamics in a long-term polyculture constructed wetland

Yucong Zheng; Dan Yang; Mawuli Dzakpasu; Qian Yang; Yang Liu; Hengfeng Zhang; Lu Zhang; Xiaochang C Wang; Yaqian Zhao

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123927

Effects of plants competition on critical bacteria selection and pollutants dynamics in a long-term polyculture constructed wetland

Bioresour Technol. 2020 Nov:316:123927. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123927. Epub 2020 Jul 29.

Authors

Yucong Zheng¹, Dan Yang², Mawuli Dzakpasu³, Qian Yang², Yang Liu², Hengfeng Zhang², Lu Zhang², Xiaochang C Wang³, Yaqian Zhao⁴

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, PR China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, PR China. Electronic address: yucong.zheng@xauat.edu.cn.
² Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, PR China.
³ Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, PR China; International Science & Technology Cooperation Center for Urban Alternative Water Resources Development, Xi'an 710055, PR China.
⁴ UCD Dooge Centre for Water Resources Research, School of Civil Engineering, Newstead Building, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.

PMID: 32750641
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123927

Abstract

The effects of mix planting on the functions of plants, microorganisms, and their interactions were studied in a CW planted with Phragmites australis and Typha orientalis over six years. Findings show notable competition among plant species, with excessive overgrowth of the dominant species (P. australis) over T. orientalis. The excessive outcompeting by P. australis resulted in significantly higher plant density and biomass of 20.1 times and 11.2 times, respectively than that of T. orientalis. Interspecific competition appeared to considerably intensify plants contributions to nitrogen and phosphorus removal, which increased from circa 9% in the first year up to 42% in the sixth year. High-throughput pyrosequencing and network analyses demonstrated that the dominant species stands harbor diverse bacterial communities that could enhance the wetland performance through carbon degradation, nutrient cycling, and supporting plant growth. These results provide useful insights into the interactive effects of plants and bacteria in polyculture constructed wetlands.

Keywords: Bacterial community; Constructed wetland; Interactive effect; Pollutants removal; Wetland plants.

MeSH terms

Bacteria / genetics
Environmental Pollutants*
Phosphorus
Poaceae
Typhaceae*
Waste Disposal, Fluid
Wetlands

Substances

Environmental Pollutants
Phosphorus