Uptake rates of nitrogen and phosphorus in the water by Eichhornia crassipes and Salvinia auriculata.

Abstract

The main goal of this research was to survey information about the physiology of Eichhornia crassipes and Salvinia auriculata and their capacity to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from the environment, after quantifying the concentrations of the nitrogen (NO3-N, NH4-N and total-N) and phosphorus (PO4-P and total-P) compounds in the water. The macrophytes were incubated in the laboratory in plastic vials of approximately 1.5 litters containing a previously prepared solution of NH4NO3, NH4Cl and KH2PO4. Eichhornia crassipes exhibited the highest rates of nutrient reduction and the concentrations of NO3-N, NH4-N and PO4-P in the water influenced the uptake rates of nitrogen and phosphorus of the E. crassipes and S. auriculata. This information can help to reach adequate management strategies for aquatic macrophytes in order to reduce the eutrophication process in Imboassica lagoon.