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Assessment of nutrient retention by Natete wetland Kampala, Uganda

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dc.creator Kanyiginya, V.
dc.creator Kansiime, Frank
dc.creator Kimwaga, Richard
dc.creator Mashauri, Damas A.
dc.date 2016-07-24T05:24:28Z
dc.date 2016-07-24T05:24:28Z
dc.date 2010-12
dc.date.accessioned 2018-03-27T08:41:15Z
dc.date.available 2018-03-27T08:41:15Z
dc.identifier Kanyiginya, V., Kansiime, F., Kimwaga, R. and Mashauri, D.A., 2010. Assessment of nutrient retention by Natete wetland Kampala, Uganda. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 35(13), pp.657-664.
dc.identifier http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/3410
dc.identifier 10.1016/j.pce.2010.07.027
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/3410
dc.description Full text can be accessed at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1474706510001567
dc.description Natete wetland which is located in a suburb of Kampala city in Uganda is dominated by Cyperus papyrus and covers an area of approximately 1km2. The wetland receives wastewater and runoff from Natete town which do not have a wastewater treatment facility. The main objective of this study was to assess nutrient retention of Natete wetland and specifically to: determine the wastewater flow patterns in the wetland; estimate the nutrient loads into and out of the wetland; determine the nutrient retention by soil, plants and water column in the wetland; and assess the above and belowground biomass density of the dominant vegetation. Soil, water and plant samples were taken at 50m intervals along two transects cut through the wetland; soil and water samples were taken at 10cm just below the surface. Physico-chemical parameters namely pH, electrical conductivity and temperature were measured in situ. Water samples were analyzed in the laboratory for ammonium-nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen, total nitrogen, orthophosphate and total phosphorus. Electrical conductivity ranged between 113μS/cm and 530μS/cm and the wastewater flow was concentrated on the eastern side of the wetland. pH varied between 6 and 7, temperature ranged from 19°C to 24°C. NH4-N, NO3-N, and TN concentrations were retained by 21%, 98%, and 35% respectively. Phosphorus concentration was higher at the outlet of the wetland possibly due to release from sediments and leaching. Nutrient loads were higher at the inlet (12,614±394kgN/day and 778±159kgP/day) than the outlet (2368±425kgN/day and 216±56kgP/day) indicating retention by the wetland. Plants stored most nutrients compared to soil and water. The belowground biomass of papyrus vegetation in the wetland was higher (1288.4±8.3gDW/m2) than the aboveground biomass (1019.7±13.8gDW/m2). Plant uptake is one of the important routes of nutrient retention in Natete wetland. It is recommended that harvesting papyrus can be an effective way of nutrient removal especially phosphorus which is not easily lost to the atmosphere like nitrogen. Natete wetland needs to be left in its natural state for better efficiency in nutrient retention. Bio-manipulation of the wetland by spreading the wastewater as it enters the wetland could enhance the interaction between plants and wastewater and subsequent nutrient removal.
dc.language en
dc.subject Cyperus papyrus
dc.subject Biomass
dc.subject Natete wetland
dc.subject Nutrient retention
dc.subject Uganda
dc.title Assessment of nutrient retention by Natete wetland Kampala, Uganda
dc.type Journal Article


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