Woody biomass and elements uptake in phytoremediation of compost leachate

Abstract

Abstract. Abedi T, Avani N. 2018. Woody biomass and elements uptake in phytoremediation of compost leachate. Asian J For 2: 20-24. The utilization of wastewater for irrigation to develop biomass plantations is a win-win solution to reduce planting costs while mitigating the impacts of waste pollution. This study examined the performance of growth, biomass accumulation and nutrient absorption in Alnus glutinosa and Taxodium distichum treated with leachate water. Randomized research design with three watering treatments, namely tap water as control (C), pure leachate (P) and a mixture 1:1 of tap water and leachate, were applied to one-year-old seedlings of Alnus glutinosa and Taxodium distichum planted in pots. The parameters of diameter and height growth, aboveground and root biomass, and elements uptake were observed for eight months. The results showed that leachate had a positive influence on the growth of A. glutinosa and T. distichum in terms of an increase in diameter and height, and aboveground biomass accumulation although there was no significant difference with the other two treatments. This indicated that the irrigations by pure leachate and mixture liquid stimulated growth in the same way as irrigation by water. The results of elements absorption showed no statistical difference except the absorption of Ca concentration in root which was higher than the absorption of other elements and showed significant difference in 1: 1 treatment. The results of this study suggest that pure compost leachate can be used to water the studied species although further studies that escalate the laboratory scale into field-scale are required.