| title: | Nutrient budgets in constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment and in riparian buffer zones |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF6083 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| status: | accepted |
| institution: | University of Tartu |
| head of project: | Ülo Mander |
| duration: | 01.01.2005 - 31.12.2008 |
| description: | Main objectives of the project are: (1) to quantify variability of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) budgets in various types of constructed wetlands (CW) for wastewater treatment (vertical and horizontal subsurface flow wetlands, free water surface system wetlands and hybrid wetland systems which are combinations of above mentioned CWs; VSSF, HSSF, FWSW and HWSs, respectively) measuring all important fluxes and transformation processes, (2) to determine N and P budgets in riparian buffer zones (RBZ) of various vegetation type, age and initial loading, (3) to determine spatial and temporal variability of N2:N2O emission ratio from various CWs and RBZs in varying environmental conditions, (4) to determine the role of CWs and RBZs in controlling nutrient runoff from catchments of various land use structure, (5) to analyse, using the columns and full-scale subsurface flow CWs, P removal efficiency of various local filter media, (6) to clarify possibilities for the re-use of saturated with P filter materials, (7) to quantify most important factors controlling the plant biomass production in CWs. Main outcomes of the project are: (1) practical recommendations for establishing various types of CWs (VSSF, HSSF, FWSW, and HWS) for optimal removal of nutrients on annual base; (2) recommendations for creation and management of vegetation in RBZs and CWs to achieve maximal N and P removal, minimal emission levels of greenhouse gases and, if planned so, highest phytomass production; (3) recommendation for optimization of the pattern of RBZs under the circumstances of possible increase in non-point pollution loading due to the re-intensification of agricultural land use; (4) a decision support system for integration of ecotechnological measueres (i.e., CWs and RBZs) into catchment management plans, (5) publications in intentional peer-reviewed journals and books for distribution of results. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Valdo Kuusemets | University of Tartu | senior researcher | |
| 2. | Martin Maddison | University of Tartu | PhD student | |
| 3. | Ülo Mander | University of Tartu | professor | |
| 4. | Alar Noorvee | University of Tartu | PhD student | |
| 5. | Kaspar Nurk | University of Tartu | PhD student | |
| 6. | Sille Teiter | University of Tartu | PhD student | |
| 7. | Evelyn Uuemaa | University of Tartu | PhD student | |
| 8. | Christina Vohla | University of Tartu | PhD student | |