Harmful algal blooms caused by nitrates and phosphates negatively affect estuarine ecosystems, such as the Chesapeake Bay. These blooms diminish dissolved oxygen levels in the water, release toxins, and block sunlight needed for submerged aquatic vegetation. Artificial wetlands have been utilized to reduce the amount of nitrate pollution. This project was designed to test the cattail, switchgrass, and soft-stem bulrush for their potential to remove nitrate pollutants. In order to amplify the differences between the plants, we used glucose as an organic amendment, which we selected through Phase I of our research. We plan used the ANOVA test in order to determine the significance of our findings. Based on our data, we hope that future environmental groups will be able to better choose the most beneficial species to plant in artificial wetlands.

Research Question:

What combination of plants with the potential to be used as biofuels most efficiently removes nitrates, the result of agricultural runoff, from the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in a wetland environment?

Please send your inquiries to team.swamp.2013@gmail.com, and we will be sure to get back to you!

Website last updated: September 23, 2012