Elevated salinity inhibits nitrogen removal by changing the microbial community composition in constructed wetlands during the cold season

Abstract

In the present study we investigated whether subsurface flow constructed wetlands (SSF-CWs) can remove nitrogen from saline waste water and whether salinity affects nitrogen removal during the cold season (mean water temperature <10°C). Eight Iris pseudacorus-planted SSF-CWs were fed with normal (salinity 1.3–1.5‰; CWP) or saline (salinity 6.3–6.5‰; CWP+) waste water; similarly, eight unplanted SSF-CWs were fed with normal (CWU) or saline waste water (CWU+). The systems were run continuously at a hydraulic loading rate of 187.5mmday–1 and a hydraulic retention time of 4 days. Nitrogen removal efficiency, plant parameters and bacterial abundance and community composition were measured. In CWP, 80% of NH4+-N and 52% of total nitrogen (TN) were removed. In contrast, the removal rates of NH4+-N and TN in CWP+ were reduced by 27 and 37% respectively. In the presence of higher salinity, not only were there decreases in plant biomass (32.1%) and nitrogen uptake (50.1%), but the growth, activity and oxygen release of roots were also reduced (by 37.8, 68.0 and 62.9% respectively). Bacterial community composition also differed under conditions of elevated salinity. Elevated salinity is associated with lower nitrogen removal in SSF-CWs, which we speculate is a result of suppressed wetland macrophyte growth and activity, as well as changes in microbial community composition.