Nutrient removal in vegetated and unvegetated canals in the Po river delta. Ferrara, Northern Italy

Nitrogen and phosphorus reduction were evaluated in the canals of the Po River Delta, vegetated by two native emergent aquatic macrophytes, reed Phrogmites oustrolis and catttail Typho ongustifolio, through sampling during irrigation period. Nitrogen removal was measured by the assimilation into plant biomass for a minor extent while the largest porrtion could be attributed to denitrification.The most important nitrogen removal was meaasured in vegetated stretches when inftowing water was characterized by high ammonium concentration. Phosphorus concentrations remained low throughout the study period with no changes due to vegetation observed.