Environmental restoration effects of Ranunculus sceleratus L. in a eutrophic sewage system

This study investigated the environmental restoration effects of Ranunculus sceleratus in a sewage system microcosm trial, including the removal of pollutants and algal inhibition. We compared the removal of pollutants by R. sceleratus in a eutrophic sewage system in the presence and the absence of algae. The rate of removal without algae was 16.2-20.5% of that with algae. NH4+-N was removed most readily by R. sceleratus. The effects of R. sceleratus on the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa were also investigated in two allelopathic modes. The level of algal inhibition after the addition of an extract of Ranunculus scleratus was 57.1-78.9% greater than that in a co-culture test. To understand the role of allelopathy interference with algal development, we also determined the total flavonoid contents of plants, which ranged from 3.57 g to 20.19 g per plant. The cell density of Microcystis aeruginosa was negatively correlated with the total flavonoids in R. sceleratus, although aquatic macrophytes may contain other allelochemicals involved with algal inhibition in addition to flavonoid compounds. The environmental effects of R. sceleratus were significantly correlated with its growth stage (or water retention time), plant height, and biomass. This study suggests that R. sceleratus has potential for the low-effort and sustainable management of freshwaters, particularly the removal of nutrient pollutants and the reduction of excessive algal growth, which may be attributable to allelochemicals such as flavonoids. The in situ environmental restoration effects of R. sceleratus require further investigation at the ecosystem level.