Comparison of Phytoremediation Capacity of Ailanthus altissima Mill. and Fraxinus excelsior L. in Removal of Nitrate and Phosphate in Water

Environmental pollution as a desertification consequences, is one of the most important challenges in human societies.Nitrate and phosphate are two important pollutants, which are created from chemical fertilizer and cause water resources pollution.There are different techniques for remediation,but due to the sensitive and fragile propertise of deserts ecosystem,phytoremediation process is a natural remedy utilized by agricultural system. This study aims to assess the phytoremediation potential of Ailanthus altissima Mill. and Fraxinus excelsior L. for removal of Nitrate and phosphate in waterby factorial experiment in randomized complete block design. Firstly, a total number of 96 trees from the two species were planted in Isfahan University of Technology. In the current study, three levels of phosphate (5-10-50 mg/L) and nitrate (5-10-50 mg/L) for each of the species were and a blank sample with three were considered replicates. Nitrate and phosphate pollutants were investigated in three densities of 5-10-50 mg/L in 3 replications. Afterwards, the level of nitrate and phosphate removal were measured. Results show that nitrate removal levels in 5, 10 and 50 mg/L concentrations in first week by A. altissima are 74.53, 75.23, and 79.95% and by F. excelsior are 79.04, 80.65, and 83.97%, respectively. Likewise, phosphate removal in 5, 10 and 50 mg/L concentrations by A. altissima are 74.10, 77.18, and 82.81% and by F. excelsior are 74.16, 79.87, and 83.56%, respectively. There is a significant difference between A. altissima and F. excelsior in removing nitrate and phosphate.