Greenhouse gas production and efficiency of planted and artificially aerated constructed wetlands

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by constructed wetlands (CWs) could mitigate the environmental benefits of nutrient removal in these man-made ecosystems. We studied the effect of 3 different macrophyte species and artificial aeration on the rates of nitrous oxide (N 2O), carbon dioxide (CO 2) and methane (CH 4) production in CW mesocosms over three seasons. CW emitted 2–10 times more GHG than natural wetlands. Overall, CH 4 was the most important GHG emitted in unplanted treatments. Oxygen availability through artificial aeration reduced CH 4 fluxes. Plant presence also decreased CH 4 fluxes but favoured CO 2 production. Nitrous oxide had a minor contribution to global warming potential (GWP < 15%). The introduction of oxygen through artificial aeration combined with plant presence, particularly Typha angustifolia, had the overall best performance among the treatments tested in this study, including lowest GWP, greatest nutrient removal, and best hydraulic properties. Methane is the main greenhouse gas produced in constructed wetlands and oxygen availability is the main factor controlling fluxes.