The influence of plants on nitrogen removal from landfill leachate in discontinuous batch shallow constructed wetland with recirculating subsurface horizontal flow

► Plants have a great influence on conditions and processes in a shallow CW system. ► Plants control the Eh by release of O2 and organics into the root zone. ► O2 provided by plants resulted in low concentrations of NH4 during sunny days. ► Light stimulation caused increase concentration of Norg in the root zone. ► Climatic changes caused opposite fluctuations between Norg and NH4.