Nitrogen and phosphorus pollution from fertilizer runoff and sewage is a global problem that creates algal blooms in rivers and lakes and dead zones in oceans, where a lack of oxygen diminishes water quality and kills aquatic life. But, according to a team of scientists, there could be a beautiful solution—flowers!
The researchers say the cut flowers could pay for themselves and even turn a profit. | Credit: Margi Rentis, CC BY-ND|
Researchers from Florida International University grew marigolds through holes on floating mats in canals near Miami, in a method similar to hydroponics. Instead of getting nutrients from soils, the plants soaked up nitrogen and phosphorus from the polluted water to thrive. And boy they did thrive. The plants blossomed into long, marketable stems with large blooms in quantities that matched typical flower farm production—all while removing 52 percent more phosphorus and 36 percent more nitrogen than would occur naturally.
The bigger the plants grew, the cleaner the water got, which the researchers say could not only solve a vexing pollution problem but also contribute to the area’s economy. Eighty percent of the nation’s bouquet flowers are imported from South America through the Miami International Airport, and the team says the blossoms they grow could be sold to local florists and provide jobs.
Wetlands extract harmful nutrients from water, but many have been eliminated by development. These floating flower wetlands could be an effective way to stemthe tide of pollution worldwide.
The work was published in the journal Environmental Advances.
https://h2oradio.org/this-week-in-water/the-lies-of-the-plastics-industry-exposed
GET WET! 