Effects of plant diversity on greenhouse gas emissions in microcosms simulating vertical constructed wetlands with high ammonium loading.

Wastewater with relatively high nitrogen concentrations is a major source of nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) emissions and exerts multiple stresses on the environment. Studies have shown that plant diversity plays an important role in ecosystem functioning. However, the effects of plant species diversity on CH4 and N2O emissions under high ammonium (NH4+-N) loading rates remain unclear. In this study, a microcosm experiment simulating vertical constructed wetlands supplied with high NH4+-N water levels was established. The treatments included four species richness levels (1, 2, 3, 4) and 15 species compositions. There was no significant relationship between species richness and N2O emissions. However, N2O emissions were significantly reduced by specific plant species composition. Notably, the communities with the presence of Rumex japonicus L. reduced N2O emissions by 62% compared to communities without this species. This reduction in N2O emissions may have been a result of decreased N concentrations and increased plant biomass. CH4 emissions did not respond to plant species richness or species identity. Overall, plant species identity surpassed species richness in lowering N2O emissions from constructed wetlands with high NH4+-N water. The results also suggest that communities with R. japonicus could achieve higher N removal and lower greenhouse gas emissions than other wetland species.