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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Mesocosm-Scale Constructed Wetland Design for Wastewater Treatment
08:24

Mesocosm-Scale Constructed Wetland Design for Wastewater Treatment

Published on: May 2, 2025

Enzyme and root activities in surface-flow constructed wetlands.

Ling Kong1, Yu-Bin Wang, Li-Na Zhao

  • 1Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Science in Guangdong Higher Education, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, 510631 Guangzhou, PR China.

Chemosphere
|June 6, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Constructed wetlands effectively purify wastewater, with contaminant removal linked to soil enzyme and root activity. Specific enzyme activities correlated with nutrient removal, highlighting their role in wetland purification processes.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Biogeochemistry
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Constructed wetlands are engineered systems for domestic wastewater treatment.
  • Understanding the biological and chemical processes driving contaminant removal is crucial for optimizing wetland design and function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationships between contaminant removal efficiency and soil enzyme activity, root activity, and plant growth in constructed wetlands.
  • To identify key soil enzymes and root characteristics influencing the purification of various wastewater contaminants.

Main Methods:

  • Construction and monitoring of sixteen small-scale wetlands planted with four different plant species.
  • Measurement of contaminant removal efficiencies (NH4+, total phosphorus, soluble reactive phosphorus, total nitrogen, NO3-, COD).
  • Assay of soil enzyme activities (urease, protease, phosphatase, cellulase), root activity, root biomass, and root growth.
  • Analysis of seasonal patterns and substrate depth variations in enzyme and root activities.

Main Results:

  • Contaminant removal efficiencies showed significant correlations with specific soil enzyme activities, varying by contaminant and plant species.
  • Ammonium (NH4+) removal correlated with urease and protease activity; phosphorus removal correlated with phosphatase activity.
  • Root activity and enzyme activity correlations differed among plant species, with significant links observed in Vetiveria zizanioides and Phragmites australis.
  • Enzyme and root activities exhibited single-peak seasonal patterns and were generally higher in the top substrate layer.

Conclusions:

  • Soil enzyme and root activities are critical indicators and drivers of contaminant removal in constructed wetlands.
  • The specific plant species and their associated root and soil microbial communities significantly influence purification performance.
  • Targeting specific enzyme activities through plant selection and management could enhance wastewater treatment efficiency in constructed wetlands.