Evaluation of phytoremediation potential of Canna indica and Ageratum conyzoides in field-scale hybrid wetlands treating greywater

Datta, A and Raja, S K and Singh, H O and Singh, R (2025) Evaluation of phytoremediation potential of Canna indica and Ageratum conyzoides in field-scale hybrid wetlands treating greywater. International Journal of Phytoremediation (TSI). ISSN 1522-6514

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Abstract

Constructed wetlands (CWs) offer an eco-friendly wastewater treatment technology which can provide a low-cost alternative to “raw wastewater discharge” which although is increasingly becoming unsustainable, remains the most common practice for urban housing colonies in India. This study demonstrates that despite being a semi-engineered system CWs can provide consistent removal efficiency while treating “grey water”, which constitutes the major fraction of the total wastewater generated in an urban housing colony. The lack of field-scale performance data for CWs has kept builders, practicing engineers, and policy makers thus far unconvinced about their true potential beyond scientific publications. The work presented here provides comparative assessment of phytoremediation potential of two macrophytes Canna indica and Ageratum conyzoides while treating grey water emanating from a nearby urban housing colony. How the relative positioning of these macrophytes, upstream or downstream of each other, can influence the wastewater treatment efficiency was also evaluated. Higher removal efficiencies were observed for inorganic nitrogen (43.4%) and phosphate (45.68%) for CWs vegetated with Canna indica while higher sulfate removal efficiency (63.5%) was observed for CWs vegetated with Ageratum conyzoides. For chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSSs), removal efficiencies remained consistently above 65% and 80%, respectively. Novelty statement Such detailed assessment of phytoremediation potential of Canna indica and Ageratum conyzoides in a field-scale constructed wetland using real wastewater has not been reported earlier in Indian conditions. Highlights Performance of four field scale constructed wetlands was evaluated using real wastewater. Phytoremediation potential of Canna indica and Ageratum conyzoides was evaluated. Revenue and valorization potential of the biomass harvested from CWs were estimated.

Item Type: Article
Divisions: Global Research Program - Resilient Farm and Food Systems
CRP: UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords: Ageratum conyzoides, Canna indica, constructed wetland, sub-surface flow, vertical flow
Subjects: Others > Water Resources
Depositing User: Mr Nagaraju T
Date Deposited: 03 Oct 2025 03:10
Last Modified: 03 Oct 2025 03:10
URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/13349
Official URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/152265...
Projects: UNSPECIFIED
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement: The authors acknowledge the contributions of Mrs. Chetna Nimje and Mr. Vijaya Ranganatha for the plant tissue analysis and wastewater analysis at the Charles Renard Analytical Laboratory (CRAL) at ICRISAT Patancheru.
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