Sustainable livestock wastewater treatment via phytoremediation: Current status and future perspectives

[Display omitted] •Phytoremediation of livestock wastewater is a sustainable management method.•Livestock wastewater contains a great deal of high levels of poisonous pollutants.•Livestock wastewater possesses significant detriment to the environment and humans.•Pollutants removed by plants from livestock wastewater involved multifold mechanisms.•Gene-editing plants are promising perspectives for livestock wastewater treatment. Phytoremediation, the application of vegetation and microorganisms for recovery of nutrients and decontamination of the environment, has emerged as a low-cost, eco-friendly, and sustainable approach compared to traditional biological and physico-chemical processes. Livestock wastewater is one of the most severe pollution sources to the environment and water resources. When properly handled, livestock wastewater could be an important alternative water resource in water-scarce regions. This review discussed the characteristics and hazards of different types of livestock wastewater and available methods for the treatment. Meanwhile, the current status of investigations on phytoremediation of livestock wastewater via different hydrophyte systems such as microalgae, duckweed, water hyacinth, constructed wetlands, and other hydrophytes is reviewed, and the utilization of hydrophytes after management is also discussed. Furthermore, advantages and limitations on livestock wastewater management via phytotechnologies are emphasized. At last, future research needs are also proposed.