Removal of Plant Pathogen Propagules from Irrigation Runoff using Slow Filtration Systems: Quantifying Physical and Biological Components

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution air, and soil pollution, 2014-06, Vol.225 (6), p.1-11, Article 1999
• Main Authors: Nyberg, Elizabeth T, White, Sarah A, Jeffers, Steven N, Bridges, William. C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biofiltration; Biological; clay; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Density; Earth and Environmental Science; Effluents; Environment; Environmental impact; Environmental monitoring; Filtration; Greenhouses; Hydrogeology; Irrigation; Irrigation water; Microorganisms; Nurseries; Ornamental plants; Pathogens; Phytophthora; Phytophthora nicotianae; plant nurseries; plant pathogens; Plants (organisms); Polyethylene; Propagules; Recycled materials; risk; Runoff; runoff irrigation; Sand; Soil Science & Conservation; Studies; Substrates; Water; Water conservation; Water Quality/Water Pollution; Water reuse; Water treatment; Zoospores
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-014-1999-5

Recycling irrigation water is a common practice at ornamental plant nurseries for conserving water; however, it poses the risk of sourcing and dispersing waterborne plant pathogens, especially species of Phytophthora. Slow sand filtration is a water treatment process that can remove pathogens from water, but the slow rate of water treatment may limit its application at nursery operations. In this study, four novel substrates (crushed brick, calcined clay, polyethylene beads, and Kaldnes® medium) in addition to sand were examined to determine how effective each substrate was at removing zoospores of Phytophthora nicotianae from water. The effects of substrate physical parameters, substrate depths (0, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 60 cm), and microbe density (after nursery effluent was recirculated through each substrate for 21 days) on zoospore removal by each substrate were quantified. Sand was the most effective physical filter and supported development of the best biological filter for removing zoospores. Sand columns 40 and 60 cm deep removed zoospores completely using physical filtration alone, and zoospore removal by sand at 10- and 20-cm depths was increased with the addition of biological filtration. Kaldnes® medium and polyethylene beads were the least effective filtration substrates under all conditions tested. After 21 days of recirculating nursery effluent through substrate columns, microbe density in and zoospore removal by all substrates increased. With further optimization, crushed brick may have potential to be utilized as a recycled material for a slow filtration system focused on removing plant pathogens from irrigation water.