Study on absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus in
bodies of water by Orychophragmus violaceus
grown in floating beds
Y. Y. Wu1, P. P. Li1, B. L. Wang2 & C. Q. Liu2
1
The Institute of the Agricultural Equipment Engineering,
Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
2
The State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry,
Institute of Geochemistry, The Chinese Academy of Sciences,
Guiyang， 550002, China
Abstract
Orychophragmus violaceus, the plant of adaptability to karst, can grow in
limestone soil at low concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus in karst area. This
paper reports the differences of absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus at low
concentrations of cultivation liquid by Orychophragmus violaceus and Brassica
juncea. In a 10mg/l of concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus respectively,
Orychophragmus violaceus have greater absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus, and
Brassica juncea releases nitrogen, phosphorus of plants into the cultivation
liquid. In a 5mg/l of concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus respectively,
Orychophragmus violaceus absorb phosphorus to a minimum concentration of
0.4 mg/l of cultivation liquid, the minimum concentration of absorption of NH4N is 1.8 mg/l. Brassica juncea absorb phosphorus to a minimum concentration of
20.6 mg/l of the cultivation liquid, the minimum concentration of absorption of
NH4-N is 22. 4 mg/l. This shows that Orychophragmus violaceus have the ability
of absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus in lower concentrations and be used as
floating-bed plants on decontamination and administration of eutrophication in
natural bodies of water and sanitary sewage.
Keywords: Orychophragmus violaceus, floating-bed plant, nitrogen,
phosphorus, limestone.
Waste Management and the Environment II, V. Popov, H. Itoh, C.A. Brebbia & S. Kungolos (Editors)
© 2004 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISBN 1-85312-738-8
582 Waste Management and the Environment II
1
Introduction
In recent years, with the rapidly development of industrial and agricultural
production and social economy in China, waste water and sanitary sewage were
increasingly constantly discharged into the rivers, lake, but water treatment
facilities construction was lagged behind seriously; some water bodies
environments was polluted serious, the eutrophication water areas was increased
day by day. It is predicted that the lake number is up to more than 90% in China
that has already trended towards eutrophication at present [1]，and the degree of
eutrophication in most water bodies will continue strengthening[2]．In control
the eutrophication of water bodies, it was adopted directly planting hyacinth, etc.
aquatic plant to purify water quality in some countries and regions in recent
years [3，4]. Although some good results was obtained, most hydrophyte are
difficult to produce economic benefits directly and apt to produce the sequelae,
and not recommended application with the large area yet. Terricolous plants such
as grain, vegetables, flowers or green plants, etc. may been planted and floated in
the floating-bed in the pollution water with eutrophication. Water quality was
purified by the absorption and adsorption of plant root system, collection N, P
element, degradation and collection on other harmful to noxious substance,
harvest of plant to move out of pollutants in water bodies. Floating-bed plant
control eutrophication is an important means of management eutrophication of
water body at present. There are only a few plants to use as floating-bed plants
such as rice, canna, Veliveria zizanioides（L）Nash,etc.. It is because that few
terricolous plants can grow under lower nutrition environments. To widen
floating-bed plant resource, we study absorption action of plants with capability
of growing at barren land devoid of nitrogen, phosphorus, and attempt to put
forward the choice standard of the floating-bed plant.
Orychophragmus violaceus, the plant of adaptability to karst [5], can grow in
limestone soil at the low concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus in karst area [6].
Recently, we succeed in utilizing O. violaceus as floating-bed plant. This paper
deal with absorption on nitrogen, phosphorus of the water body by O. violaceus
and possible mechanism as floating-bed plant.
2
Materials and methods
O. violaceus and Brassica juncea (variety: Luzhousileng) were used as
experimental materials. The seeds of O. violaceus and B. juncea were set in
thermostated containers sprouting at 20℃. 10 days later, seedlings were cultured
in the solution of Hoagland. Culture temperature is 15-25℃, illumination
intensity 1500 lx. 20 of seedlings of O. violaceus and B. juncea each, were put
into absorption solution of 100ml with certain concentration of NH4-N and
H2PO4-P, and ion absorption experiment of seedlings was done after 40 d culture
at 1500 lx. The change of concentration of NH4-N, H2PO4-P in absorption
solution before and after absorption was determined. The concentration of NH4N is determined by the method of Kjeldahl, the concentration of H2PO4-P is
determined by phosphorus molybdenum blue colorimetry.
Waste Management and the Environment II, V. Popov, H. Itoh, C.A. Brebbia & S. Kungolos (Editors)
© 2004 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISBN 1-85312-738-8
Waste Management and the Environment II
3
583
Results
3.1 Ion absorption in higher concentration culture solution
Put B. juncea and O. violaceus into culture solution with the concentration of
each 10mg/l NH4-N and H2PO4-P and obtained 10ml mixed solution every 2
hours to determine the concentration of NH4-N and H2PO4-P, the results was
obtained as table 1. From table 1,we can find out the reduction of concentration
of NH4-N and H2PO4-P in culture solution with increase of the time of
absorption by O. violaceus, and little reduction of concentration of NH4-N and
H2PO4-P at the first 2 hours of absorption, an increase during 4-10 hours in
culture solution of B. juncea.
Table 1:
The changes of concentration of NH4-N , H2PO4-P in higher
concentration culture solution before and after ions absorption
(The values correspond to the mean±SD (n=5)).
Materials
Orychophragmus
violaceus
Brassica juncea
Absorption times
0
2
4
6
8
10
0
2
4
6
8
10
NH4-N
(mg/l)
10.58±0.56
8.45±0.45
6.34±0.39
3.12±0.33
2.24±0.28
2.08±0.26
11.76±0.88
10.45±0.72
14.56±1.28
19.54±1.03
21.54±1.79
22.47±2.58
H2PO4-P
(mg/l)
10.34±0.78
8.78±0.67
7.01±0.54
5.89±0.43
3.12±0.32
1.28±0.21
11.56±0.92
10.78±0.69
13.65±1.14
17.76±1.28
20.12±2.44
20.88±2.53
3.2 Ion absorption in lower concentration culture solution
Put B. juncea and O. violaceus into culture solution with the concentration of
each 5mg/l NH4-N and H2PO4-P and obtained 10ml mixed solution every 2 hours
to determine the concentration of NH4-N and H2PO4-P, the results was obtained
as table 2. From table 2,we can find out the reduction of concentration of NH4-N
and H2PO4-P in culture solution with increase of the time of absorption by O.
violaceus, and tendency of stability of concentration of NH4-N and H2PO4-P by
8-10 hours, 1.8mg/l NH4-N, 0.4mg/l H2PO4-P. The concentration of NH4-N and
H2PO4-P in culture solution was increased with increase of the time of absorption
by B. juncea, and tendency of stability of concentration of NH4-N and H2PO4-P
by absorption 10 hours.
Waste Management and the Environment II, V. Popov, H. Itoh, C.A. Brebbia & S. Kungolos (Editors)
© 2004 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISBN 1-85312-738-8
584 Waste Management and the Environment II
Table 2:
The changes of concentration of NH4-N , H2PO4-P in lower
concentration culture solution before and after ions absorption
(mg/l) (The values correspond to the mean±SD (n=5)).
Materials
Orychophragmus
violaceus
Brassica juncea
4
Absorption times
(hour)
0
2
4
6
8
10
0
2
4
6
8
10
NH4-N
(mg/l)
6.21±0.28
3.19±0.14
1.94±0.13
1.88±0.08
1.78±0.12
1.80±0.11
6.23±0.32
9.97±0.34
14.23±0.65
19.81±0.65
21.47±1.04
22.40±1.26
H2PO4-P
(mg/l)
6.01±0.25
3.28±0.10
1.34±0.08
0.59±0.07
0.42±0.08
0.40±0.05
6.98±0.19
9.79±0.29
13.28±0.46
17.35±0.53
19.12±0.98
20.60±0.79
Discussions
The species of floating-bed plant is actually few. Rice and canna can be used as
floating-bed plant now. Why the rice and canna can be used as floating-bed
plant? They have the ability of tolerance to lower concentration nutrient
elements, such as nitrogen, phosphorus especially [7, 8]. The minimum
concentration of absorption on N by rice is 1.02 mg/l, the minimum
concentration of absorption on TP 0.16mg/l. The minimum concentration of
absorption on TN by canna is 1.1 mg/l, the minimum concentration of absorption
on TP 0.08mg/l. It is indicated that characteristics of floating-bed plant is able to
tolerance lower concentration nutrition and lower minimum concentration that
nitrogen and phosphorus were absorbed. The minimum concentration of element
absorbed is the minimum concentration of solution that plant has absorption
capacity. Compared with B. juncea, O. violaceus has the ability of tolerance to
lower concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus. The minimum concentration of
absorption on N is 1.80mg/l; the minimum concentration of absorption on P
0.40mg/l. B. juncea not only can't absorb the nutrition element in the solution of
lower concentration, but also discharge the inorganic element into the solution.
O. violaceus has extensive adaptability [5]. It can sustain oneself at 30-40℃
high-temperature and -10℃ following low-temperature. It has strong ability to
tolerance contaminant, green in winter, and flowers, oil and vegetables plant, and
with glucoranphanin of cancer-resisting substance in the seeds. It can be used as
floating-bed plant to control the sanitary sewage and eutrophication.
Waste Management and the Environment II, V. Popov, H. Itoh, C.A. Brebbia & S. Kungolos (Editors)
© 2004 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISBN 1-85312-738-8
Waste Management and the Environment II
5
585
Conclusions
O. violaceus has the ability of tolerance to lower concentration of nitrogen,
phosphorus. The minimum concentration of absorption on N is 1.80mg/l, the
minimum concentration of absorption on P 0.40mg/l. It can be used as floatingbed plant to control the sanitary sewage and eutrophication.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by grant of National Natural Science Foundation of
Guizhou, Start Foundation of Senior Talents of Jiangsu University and no.
2003AA601100-3 of the National " The tenth Five-Year Plan " great science and
technology special.
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Waste Management and the Environment II, V. Popov, H. Itoh, C.A. Brebbia & S. Kungolos (Editors)
© 2004 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISBN 1-85312-738-8