Search

The present study was conducted to investigate the potential of the emergent macrophytes Phragmites australis to remediate nutrients and restore an eutrophic wetland (Lake Burullus, Egypt). The plant was sampled monthly for one year from 6 sites distributed equally along the northern and southern parts of this lake. Monthly significant variation in all investigated sediment and water nutrients for the northern and southern sites was recorded. The biomass of P. australis in the southern sites was greater than that of the northern sites; in addition, the above-ground biomass was greater than the below-ground biomass. The above-ground biomass increased from February until it reached its maximum during August and then decreased again. Likewise, the highest nutrient concentrations in the different tissues were recorded at the beginning of the growing season during winter and early spring and then gradually decreased with increasing plant biomass. Moreover, the nutrient content (g/m2) increased from the early growing season (February) and reached its peak during April–August and then decreased. Based on our results, P. australis could be used for the extraction of nutrients to reduce the eutrophication in Lake Burullus, if the above-ground biomass is harvested at its maximum value in August, as was the case regarding the maximum content of most nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aims to form new prediction models to approximate the possible uptake of six heavy metals (HMs) (Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn) in Phragmites australis tissues, including stems, leaves and belowground tissues (BGT). Samples of different plant tissues from two populations with different ages and sediments were collected monthly during one growing season (January–December) from 9 sites at Lake Burullus, and the tissues were analysed. A nonsignificant difference was observed between the actual and predicted quantities of HMs in the three tissues using t values, which reflects the goodness of fit of these equations for predicting the uptake of these HMs. Such types of equations may be helpful for evaluating the potential of this plant to phytoremediate these six HMs in Lake Burullus. • The mean bioaccumulation factor for all investigated HMs was >1. • P. australis accumulated the most HMs in belowground tissues. • Most of the investigated HMs can be phytostabilized by P. australis. • P. australis can be regarded as a bioindicator for HM pollution. • P. australis has the potential for use as a phytoremediator for Cd and Ni. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]