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Correlation Among Soil Enzyme Activities, Root Enzyme Activities, and Contaminant Removal in Two-Stage In Situ Constructed Wetlands Purifying Domestic Wastewater

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Abstract

Two-stage in situ wetlands (two vertical flow constructed wetlands in parallel and a horizontal flow constructed wetland) were constructed for studying domestic wastewater purification and the correlations between contaminant removal and plant and soil enzyme activities. Results indicated the removal efficiency of NH4 + and NO3 − were significantly correlated with both urease and protease activity, and the removal of total phosphorus was significantly correlated with phosphatase activity. Chemical oxygen demand removal was not correlated with enzyme activity in constructed wetlands. Plant root enzyme (urease, phosphatase, protease and cellulose) activity correlation was apparent with all contaminant removal in the two vertical flow constructed wetlands. However, the correlation between the plant root enzyme activity and contaminant removal was poor in horizontal flow constructed wetlands. Results indicated that plant roots clearly played a role in the removal of contaminants.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been supported jointly by the National Natural Science for Creative Research Groups of China (No. 51421006); the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (No. IRT13061); the National Natural Science Foundation (Grant Nos. 51109061, 41373111); the National Science Funds for Distinguished Young Scholars (Grant No. 51225901); the Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD); the Project Funded by Top-notch Academic Programs Project of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (TAPP).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, MOE; School of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China

    Lixiao Ni, Jiajun Xu, Peifang Wang, Yiping Li, Yong Li, Liang Zhu & Chao Wang

  2. TongLing Capital Water Co, Ltd, Tongling, 240000, China

    Xianglin Chu

  3. School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210097, China

    Shiyin Li

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  1. Lixiao Ni
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  2. Jiajun Xu
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  3. Xianglin Chu
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  4. Shiyin Li
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  5. Peifang Wang
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  6. Yiping Li
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  7. Yong Li
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  8. Liang Zhu
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  9. Chao Wang
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Correspondence to Shiyin Li.

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Ni, L., Xu, J., Chu, X. et al. Correlation Among Soil Enzyme Activities, Root Enzyme Activities, and Contaminant Removal in Two-Stage In Situ Constructed Wetlands Purifying Domestic Wastewater. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 97, 131–137 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-016-1844-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-016-1844-1

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