High methane emissions as trade-off for phosphorus removal in surface flow treatment wetlands

Mander, Ülo; Maddison, Martin; Valach, Alex Constantin; Soosaar, Kaido; Kill, Keit; Kasak, Kuno (2024). High methane emissions as trade-off for phosphorus removal in surface flow treatment wetlands Aquatic Botany, 190, p. 103719. Elsevier 10.1016/j.aquabot.2023.103719

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Constructed wetlands (CW) treating runoff from agricultural catchments reduce the nutrient load of water, however, they can also be significant sources of greenhouse gases, especially methane (CH4). We simultaneously assessed CH4 emission potentials and phosphorus (P) removal efficiency in a 0.45 ha in-stream surface flow CW to determine the main drivers of CH4 emissions, and to analyze the temporal dynamics of CH4 emissions and P removal during an almost 4-year period. The TP (total phosphorus) removal efficiency had a clear seasonal dynamic, with the highest removal occurring during summer and early autumn (monthly average 60.5%), when the flow rate was lowest and water residence time longest. Due to increasing sedimentation and related anaerobic conditions, the mean hourly CH4 emissions for each year demonstrated an increasing trend over the years: from 88 µg CH4-C m−2 h−1 in 2018–2505 µg CH4-C m−2 h−1 in 2021. There was a clear seasonality in CH4 emissions: up to 90% of CH4 fluxes occurred during the warm period (from May to October). We assume that maintenance of treatment wetlands is essential and predominantly regular removal of aboveground vegetation at the second half of the growing season would decrease CH4 emissions. Nevertheless, due to the P saturation in sediments, regular sediment removal in the long term is also necessary.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL > Agriculture
Name:	Mander, Ülo; Maddison, Martin; Valach, Alex Constantin0000-0003-4782-5766; Soosaar, Kaido; Kill, Keit and Kasak, Kuno
ISSN:	0304-3770
Publisher:	Elsevier
Language:	English
Submitter:	Alex Constantin Valach
Date Deposited:	02 Feb 2024 11:50
Last Modified:	02 Feb 2024 11:50
Publisher DOI:	10.1016/j.aquabot.2023.103719
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Agricultural runoff Carbon sequestration Vegetation development Non-point pollution Sediment accumulation
ARBOR DOI:	10.24451/arbor.21041
URI:	https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/21041