Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

GROWTH AND NUTRIENT REMOVAL POTENTIAL OF TWO NATIVE HYDROPHYTES (PISTIA SP AND SALVINIA SP) FROM MUNICIPAL SEWAGE WATER OF SAMBALPUR TOWN, ODISHA, INDIA

Bilal Ahmad Mir and Sunanda Sahoo

Abstract

Salvinia (Salvinia minima) and Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes L.) are two floating common perennial plants and have been well studied for their tremendous potential for removing toxic heavy metals. However, literatures regarding their potential to remove nutrients from eutrophicated water bodies in the present agroclimatic zone of Odisha are few. The present study assessed the growth and phytoremediation potential of two hydrophytes; Pistia and Salvinia from municipal sewage water collected from Sambalpur town of Odisha. The results indicated that Pistia and Salvinia grow rapidly in sewage water, can effectively remove excess NO3, PO4 and reduce BOD, COD and conductivity efficiently from the sewage water. The percentage reduction of conductivity, BOD, COD, PO4 and NO3 from waste water by Pistia and Salvinia were 77.4% and 77.9%, 71.25%, and 59.37%, 71% and 59%, 89% and 59%, 72.4% and 67.4% respectively within 28 days. Further, a significant correlation was observed between growth of Pistia and Salvinia with percentage reduction of the nutrient load. So, it can be concluded that Pistia and Salvinia can be used for Phytoremediation purpose in this agroclimatic zone.