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

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 mu g CH4-C m- 2 h-1 in 2018-2505 mu g 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.

Automated summary

Constructed wetlands treating runoff from agricultural catchments can reduce nutrient load of water, but they can also be significant sources of greenhouse gases, especially methane. This study assessed methane emission potentials and phosphorus removal efficiency in a 0.45 ha in-stream surface flow constructed wetland, and analyzed the temporal dynamics of methane emissions and phosphorus removal over a nearly 4-year period. The results showed a clear seasonal dynamic in phosphorus removal efficiency and an increasing trend in methane emissions over the years, with the majority of methane fluxes occurring during the warm period. Maintenance of the wetland and regular removal of aboveground vegetation can reduce methane emissions, and regular sediment removal is also necessary due to phosphorus saturation.