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Exploring the Phytoremediation Potential of Macrophytes for Treating Sewage Effluent Through Constructed Wetland Technology (CWT) for Sustainable Agriculture

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Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

Sewage generation in India accounts for 61,754 million liters per day (MLD) in urban areas, where 22,963 MLD is treated and 38791MLD remains untreated. Due to the ever-increasing population explosion and urbanization, sewage effluent generation has been increasing. Sewage effluent is a kind of wastewater comprising of 99.9% water content along with TDS (total dissolved solids), TSS (total suspended solids), heavy metals, nitrogen, phosphorus, and also waterborne pathogens. Because of its enriched nutrient, supply can be utilized for irrigation, thereby reducing the water demands for sustainable agriculture. Though many conventional technologies are available for treating sewage, CWT (constructed wetland technology) with low maintenance and simple construction looks very promising. In this technique, macrophytes and the filtration medium play a dynamic role in eradicating the pollutants in sewage. Macrophytes utilized in CWT enhance the pollutant removal mechanism by creating oxygenated environments around the rhizosphere of plants. This chapter explains the role of macrophytes, their remediation potential, types, and mechanisms involved in constructed wetland technology to treat the sewage effluent for its effective utilization for sustainable agriculture.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India

    K. Suganya, R. Poornima, E. Parameswari & P. Kalaiselvi

  2. CSIRO-NEERI, Hyderabad, India

    Joneboina Easwar Kumar

  3. Anbil Dharmalingham Agricultural College and Research Institute, Trichy, India

    S. Paul Sebastian

  4. Water Technology Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India

    Balaji Kannan

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  1. K. Suganya
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  2. Joneboina Easwar Kumar
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  1. Department of Higher Education, Government of Jammu and Kashmir (Governemnt Degree College DH Pora), Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India

    Suhaib A. Bandh

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Suganya, K. et al. (2022). Exploring the Phytoremediation Potential of Macrophytes for Treating Sewage Effluent Through Constructed Wetland Technology (CWT) for Sustainable Agriculture. In: Bandh, S.A. (eds) Sustainable Agriculture. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-83066-3_12

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