Observational analysis reveals nutrient levels impact aquatic plants in marsh water, indicating human waste influence.
Background: The southern marshes of Iraq are a variety of aquatic environments; these include deep and shallow perennial, seasonal, fresh, and salt marshes, most of which are open water and dense aquatic vegetation. Methodology: The study was conducted on the Hammer Marsh in the Al-Fhood sub-district in Dhi-Qar governorate. It is a group of marshes located south of Al-Shatrah, one of the permanent marshes; the length is about 50 km, and the study includes 9 stations. Results: The study showed the dominance of (Phragmites australis) and (Typha domingensis) plants in wetlands, it was found in all study stations. The clear waters in the deeper areas of the marsh have provided support for the submerged and diverse aquatic plant groups, including (Ceratophyllum demersum) that appeared in four stations (F1, F2, F3, F5b) other scattered plant groups, and several existing swamp weeds appeared, including the (Myriphyllum vulgar) and (Potamogeton pectiatus). As for the phosphate values, they were higher than the permissible limits in most of the stations recorded (0.752mg/L) in station F5b, and the nitrate values were recorded at high values in marsh water, higher than the internationally permissible limits (1) that it recorded (1.1 mg/L) in station F2. The growth of aquatic plants appears dense in the Hammer marsh in Al-fhood, such as (Phragmites australis), (Typha domingensis), (Ceratophyllum demersum), (Myriophyllum), and (Potamogeton pectiatus), where it grew in the stations (F1, F2, F3, F5b). The phytonutrients provide phosphate and Nitrogen, and the ones coming from human waste, mainly in the areas surrounding the marsh, stimulate the growth of aquatic plants, which later decompose to produce unacceptable odors and add BOD to the water. Conclusion: There is a difference in the ability of aquatic plants and weeds to absorb nutrients in the marsh water.
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Wahhab et al. (2025) studied this question.
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