As one of the low-impact development measures, bioretention plays an important role in reducing the runoff peak flow and minimizing runoff pollutants, such as heavy metals, suspended solids, and nutrients. However, the efficiency of nitrogen removal in the bioretention system is unstable, owing to the different chemical properties of various forms of nitrogen and the limitations of current bioretention system for nitrogen transformation. This review article summarizes the recent advances in bioretention system in treatment of urban stormwater and agricultural runoff for nitrogen removal. The microbial characteristics and main processes of nitrogen transformation in bioretention are reviewed. The operational conditions affecting nitrogen removal, including climatic conditions, pH, wet-dry alternation, influent loads and nitrogen concentration, and hydraulic residence time are discussed. Finally, measures or strategies for increasing nitrogen removal efficiency are proposed from the perspectives of structural improvement of the bioretention system, optimization of medium composition, and enhancement of the nitrogen removal reaction processes.
Keywords: Agricultural runoff; Bioretention; Biotransformation; Denitrification; Nitrogen removal; Stormwater runoff.