Increasing Nitrogen Uptake and Removal Efficiency of Eichhornia crassipes from Domestic Sewage through Dilution Culture Study

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Giri, A.K. | Sachan, P. | Kushwaha, S. | Singh, M.P. | Verma, S.

Affiliations: Institute of Environment & Development Studies, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi – 284128 (U.P.), India

Note: [] Corresponding author. E-mail: akgiry@yahoo.com

Abstract: Effluent from an urban pond receiving domestic sewage for many decades was investigated. The chemical analysis of sewage of the pond revealed very high concentrations of BOD, COD, total N, NH_4^ +-N at alkaline pH with very low concentration of DO and caused stunted growth of Eichhornia crasspes. Hence, biomass productions by E. crassipes in different rate of diluted cultures, sewage with tap water were studied. The plant recorded significantly (p < 0.01) increased biomass production, N uptake efficiency as well as N removal efficiency in two times dilution than undiluted sewage culture. Analysis of variance revealed significant variation among different rate of dilutions for net biomass production (F = 58.13), N uptake efficiency (F = 89.80) and N removal efficiency (F = 18.61) by E. crassipes at the end of two months culture study.

Keywords: Domestic sewage, E. crassipes biomass, N uptake, N removal

Journal: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 45-50, 2012