Assessing the Eutrophication Status of Qixing Wetland and the Effect of Plants

Abstract

The comprehensive trophic level index has been applied to assess eutrophication status of QiXing Wetland. The five subzones of QiXing Wetland with different vegetation pattern have different eutrophication status. The comprehensive trophic level index is mainly affected by TN and TP at high concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus. Therefore, the plant communities can significantly influence on eutrophication status of the wetland through removing nitrogen and phosphorus in water. Three mainly dominant plants in wetland are Phragmites australis, Nelumbo nucifera and Typha orientalis Presl. The ability to remove nitrogen and phosphorus of these three plant communities were investigated. Typha orientalis Presl community has the maximum efficiency in removing nitrogen and phosphorus in water. Therefore, Typha orientalis Presl is more suitable for the purification of the water.