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Plant species contribution to bioretention performance under a temperate climate
Henry Beral1, Danielle Dagenais2, Jacques Brisson1
1Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, 4101 East Sherbrooke St, Montreal, Quebec H1X 2B2, Canada.
The Science of the Total Environment
|November 12, 2022
Summary
Plant selection in bioretention systems is crucial for managing urban stormwater. Different plant species significantly impact water quality and runoff reduction, especially in temperate climates with seasonal changes.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Urban Hydrology
- Green Infrastructure
Background:
- Bioretention systems are vital green infrastructure for urban stormwater management.
- Plants are key components, enhancing water quality and reducing runoff volume and peak flows.
- Limited data exists on species-specific plant contributions in temperate climates with seasonal dormancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the bioretention effectiveness of four common plant species (Cornus sericea, Juncus effusus, Iris versicolor, Sesleria autumnalis) during growing and dormant seasons.
- To evaluate species-specific impacts on water volume, flow, and pollutant removal.
- To correlate plant traits with bioretention performance.
Main Methods:
- A mesocosm study was conducted to assess four selected plant species.
- Bioretention performance was evaluated during both growing and dormant periods.
- Measurements included runoff volume, flow rates, evapotranspiration, and contaminant levels (macronutrients, trace elements).
- Plant traits such as size, biomass, leaf area, and root density were quantified.
Main Results:
- All bioretention mesocosms effectively reduced water volume, flow, and pollutants.
- Plants significantly decreased runoff volume (up to 2.7x) and increased contaminant retention via evapotranspiration (up to 2.5x) during the growing season.
- Average mass removal rates were 55% for TN, 81% for TP, and 61% for K in planted systems.
- Planted systems generally showed higher trace element removal (up to 8.7%) than unplanted systems.
- Bioretention effectiveness correlated with plant size and evapotranspiration rates (Cornus > Juncus > Iris > Sesleria).
Conclusions:
- Plant species selection is critical for optimizing bioretention performance in temperate climates.
- Evapotranspiration driven by plant choice significantly reduces runoff volume and enhances contaminant retention.
- Plant assimilation contributes to nutrient removal, highlighting the importance of species-specific traits for effective stormwater management.
Keywords:
BiofilterBioretentionCold regionsPlant speciesSeasonal variationStormwater runoff managementMore Related Videos
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