Our group was confronted with tough challenges last year to maintain the constructed floating plant communities for nutrients removal during typhoon season. In fact it was in Taihu Lake, and typhoons in last July and Aug completely destroyed the community of Ipomoea aquatica and water chestnut in the experimental ponds.
You can try Saggitaria which would withstand typhoon, but could be of medium value for enough amount of spread to control algae growth. On the other hand,if the plants are cropped periodically,it's possible to harness some of the nutrients in the aquatic system.
Would not be some Lemna species, e.g. Lemna gibba, or other Lemnaceae like Spirodela polyrhiza, a good choise? The nutrient uptake by these plants is high and when the stands are destroyed, they quickly regenerate even from small amount of surviving plants, especially in warm climate. However, if the lake is large and wave action frequent, the habitat is not suitable for Lemnaceae. Than may be Myriophyllum spicatum could be used. It is submerged and the stems and leaves are rather flexible (the plant is able to survive well e.g. in relatively quickly running waters). As far as I know, the species produces even some active compounds against microscopic algae and/or cyanobacteria and can grow up to several meters of depth. The nutrient uptake is probably not so high as in Lemna because it does not grow so rapidly but also forms large biomass.
Agree with Katerina's answer.You can also try Najas which grows fast enough to keep up to the rising water level. The superficial part of the plant can be cut say about a feet below the water level, so that in a short time it will again make up the shortfall,in this way a periodical harvesting can be accomplished.
Another long range method would be to introduce freshwater mussels & depending up on size, periodically harvest them, in this way being a filter feeder,plankton & particulate organic matter would be harvested to an extent,thereby lowering the nutrient load in the aquatic system.
Ruiming, we use Floating structures (that are robust) in order to keep the storm surge damages to a minimal for our water cleansing projects.
For sheltered bays or lakes with little storm surges, floating mats of selected vegetation are the cheaper options that the Floating structures.
For your works at Taihu involving Ipomoea aquatica and water chestnut, you may wish to consider a wider selection of plants?
We have published two books that have useful listing of suitable plants for phytoremediation or water-cleansing purposes. Please select that plants that can tolerate the colder Chinese weather and you will be fine. Good luck!
Book A SELECTION OF PLANTS FOR GREENING OF WATERWAYS AND WATERBOD...
Book Plants in Tropical Cities
Conference Paper Developing suitable phytofiltration systems for water cleans...
A SELECTION OF PLANTS FOR GREENING OF WATERWAYS AND WATERBODIES IN THE TROPICS
Sorry that we ran out of complimentary copies. Nevertheless, You can order: http://www.naturesniche.com/en/naturesbooks/books/plants/plants_generaltropical/1/9019810850869/
cheers, John
John, it is really impressive system of water cleaning with the use of aquatic plants! I am glad that I could learn something new. In Europe, the phytoremediation systems are not very common and mainly purely technical solutions are used for waste water treatment. When the plants are used, the systems are more natural-like but not so sofisticated (and probably not effective in larger water bodies). Your system combines both and seems to be very effective!
Katerina
Jean, your systems looks really marvellous. I would like to visit your ponds if I go to Singapore.
Ruiming,
Your most welcome to visit us in Singapore. Alternatively, you can invite me over to Nanjing or Taihu (Yunnan?).
You can write to me direct at [email protected]
Best
John
Katerina,
I was at Prague 2 weeks ago attending the Auxins and Cytokinins meeting. I have many Czech friends (Ceske Budejovice, Olomouc) many of them I met in Australia. You are most welcome to visit Singapore and see the sites. We use a combination of natural (wetlands) and artificial approaches to do water cleansing while preserving the natural aesthetics.
We also do freshwater (posters attached, as well as as those for RuiMing) and also for marine/seawater scenarios (see mangrove plants' identification charts).
I may be invited to visit Olomouc later this year or next year and will make an attempt to contact you.
You can write to me direct at [email protected]
Best
John
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