What question did this study set out to answer?

To assess how plant diversity, engineered sorption media, and climate-induced increases in rainfall impact hydrologic performance and pollutant removal in roadside bioretention systems.

January 4, 2018Ecological EngineeringOpen Access

Effects of different soil media, vegetation, and hydrologic treatments on nutrient and sediment removal in roadside bioretention systems

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To assess how plant diversity, engineered sorption media, and climate-induced increases in rainfall impact hydrologic performance and pollutant removal in roadside bioretention systems.
Monitored 8 roadside bioretention cells in Burlington, Vermont, over 121 storm events across two monitoring years (2015–2016).
Evaluated treatments comprising low-diversity (2 species) vs. high-diversity (7 species) vegetation, SorbtiveMedia™ amended with iron/aluminum oxide granules, and enhanced runoff additions (+15%, +20%, and +60%).
Measured flow rates, stormwater runoff volume, total suspended solids (TSS), nitrate/nitrite-nitrogen, ortho-phosphorus, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus.
Cells reduced average effluent stormwater volume by 75% (range: 48–96%) and peak flows by 91% (range: 86–96%), with 31% of storm events completely captured.
TSS was reliably removed with an average load retention of 94% (range: 89–99%) across all cells regardless of treatment, storm depth, or season.
Nutrient removal was treatment-dependent: SorbtiveMedia™ consistently reduced phosphorus concentrations, event mean concentrations, and mass loads, whereas vegetative and enhanced runoff treatments frequently exported nutrients due to compost leaching.

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Implication

Field study shows high sediment retention but treatment-dependent nutrient capture in roadside bioretention cells, indicating specialized soil media is critical to prevent phosphorus leaching.

Cite This Study

Shrestha et al. (2018) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a0ddbd01e1a6dfdb4bae184 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.12.004

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Implication

Field study shows high sediment retention but treatment-dependent nutrient capture in roadside bioretention cells, indicating specialized soil media is critical to prevent phosphorus leaching.

Effects of different soil media, vegetation, and hydrologic treatments on nutrient and sediment removal in roadside bioretention systems

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Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Effects of different soil media, vegetation, and hydrologic treatments on nutrient and sediment removal in roadside bioretention systems

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

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