Designing constructed wetlands to remove phosphorus from barnyard runoff: A comparison of four alternative substrates

Abstract

Abstract While constructed wetlands can be a cost‐effective method for reducing the export of P from agricultural ecosystems, removal rates vary widely. The objective of this research was to evaluate substrates that could consistently improve P treatment in these wetlands. We built eight 55 m2 subsurface wetland cells on an 800‐head dairy farm in Newark, NY, USA, to test alternative substrates for removing soluble P from dairy barnyard runoff. The four media were (1) a fine loamy, mixed, mesic Glossic Hapludalf, (2) crushed limestone, (3) Norlite, lightweight coarse aggregates of fired shale, and (4) wollastonite (calcium metasilicate) mining tailings. Based on this research, we recommend Norlite for P removal in agricultural ecosystems. The native soil retained more soluble P but could not sustain subsurface flow. Wollastonite tailings warrant further research. They adsorbed 2 mg P/g in the laboratory but performed less well in the field, probably because of preferential flow.