title: Emission of nitrogen gases and methane from wastewater treatment wetlands and riparian buffer zones
reg no: ETF5247
project type: Estonian Science Foundation research grant
subject: 1.11. Natural Geography (incl Meteorology, Geophysics)
4.1. Tillage and Amelioration
status: completed
institution: University of Tartu
head of project: Ülo Mander
duration: 01.01.2002 - 31.12.2004
description: Main objectives of the project are: (1) to study the influence of varying environmental factors on the spatial-temporal dynamics of CH4 and N2O emission in different types of riparian buffer zones and various constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment; (2) to clarify the influence of pulsative loading (reciprocal regime) on CH4 and N2O emission in constructed wetlands; (3) to distinguish between the N2O fluxes originated from both nitrification and denitrification processes; (4) to clarify main factors determining the N2/N2O emission ratio in constructed wetlands and riparian buffer zones; (5) to compile the nitrogen balance in two types of constructed wetlands: horizontal and vertical flow subsurface flow wetlands (HSSF and VSSF wetlands, respectively).

Main outcomes of the project are various practical recommendations: (1) for combination of different wastewater treatment wetlands (VSSF, HSSF and free water surface (FSW) wetlands; i.e., to design hybrid treatment wetland systems ) in order to minimize hazardous greenhouse gas (CH4 and N2O) emissions; (2) for creation and management of vegetation in riparian buffer zones and constructed wetlands to achieve minimal emission levels of CH4 and N2O; (3) for optimization the riparian buffer zones¿pattern under the circumstances of possible increase in non-point pollution loading due to the re-intensification of agricultural land use.

project group
no name institution position  
1.Valdo KuusemetsIGUTsenior scientist 
2.Krista LõhmusIGUTsenior scientist 
3.Ülo ManderUniversity of Tartuprofessor 
4.Sille TeiterIGUTPhD student