Abstract:
A study was conducted to assess the feasibility of using Ipomoea aquatica and Altemanthera sessilis to
reduce the nitrate nitrogen in ground water. Samples were randomly collected from fifty wells from
Chunnakam aquifer and analyzed for nitrate and other chemical properties. The well with the highest
nitrate levels was selected for further study. Three different numbers of cuttings (3. 6 and 9) of two
species were planted in plastic bottles filled with 3.5 liter of water. Experimental was of 2 x 3 factorial
design with three replicates. Other chemical properties were analyzed at the end of four weeks. Highest
nitrate N (66.56mg/L) was recorded in well water from Uduvil while the pH, EC, hardness, SO42', and Cl of
this water were 8.07,1234 pS/cm, 296.2 mg/L, 141.34 mg/L and 137.85 mg/L, respectively. No significant
differences were observed for hardness, SO42- and Cl levels of water among different number of cuttings
in both species. Significant differences were observed for pH and EC with different number of cuttings.
After four Weeks, significantly highest available water, nitrate removal and available nitrate in water and
significantly lowest weight gain percentage were observed in treatments with 3, 9,3 and 3 cuttings,
respectively in both species. The highest percentage of weight gain (44.1g), highest nitrate removal (36.95
mg/L) and lowest available nitrate N (25.52 mg/L) were recorded when 9 cuttings of Altemanthera
sessilis were planted. Therefore, above results indicate the possibility of using these two plant species to
remove nitrate from ground water.
