A phytotoxicity test of bulrush (Scirpus grossus) grown with diesel contamination in a free-flow reed bed system

► Scirpus grossus can degrade diesel after prolonged phytotoxicity test for 72 days. ► The degradation efficiency is 70.0 and 80.2% for concentrations 8700 and 17,400 mg/L, respectively. ► At high diesel concentration of 26,100 mg/L, S. grossus died after 14 days. ► The plant biomass increases until 42 day for diesel concentrations of 8700 and 17,400 mg/L. ► This plant may be able to be used in phytoremediation of hydrocarbon contaminated site.