Research Journal of 
Recent 
Sciences 
______
______________________________
______
___
__
_
 
ISSN
 
2277 
-
 
2502
 
Vol. 
1(
ISC
-
2011
), 
41
-
46
 
(201
2
)
 
Res.J.
Recent
.Sci.
 
 
 
 
International Science Congress Association
 
 
 
 
    
41
 
Performance Evaluation of Reed Grass (
Phragmites karka
) in Constructed 
Reed Bed System (CRBs)
 
on Domestic sludge, Ujjain city
,
 
I
ndia
 
 
Manderia Sushil
 
School of Studies in Environment Management,
 
Vikram University, Ujjain
, 
MP
,
 
INDIA
 
 
Available online at: 
www.isca.in
 
(Received 21
th
 
November 
2011, revised
 
10
th
 
January 2012
, accepted
 
24
th
 
January 2012
)
 
 
Abstract
 
P
roper 
utilization and disposal of
 
solid waste specially 
domestic sludge
 
wa
s one of the most critical problem facing in city because 
domestic sludge 
i
s dump on outskirts of city without any treatment. Reed bed technology
 
wa
s based on ecological principles for 
man
agement
 
and disposal of domestic sludge
. 
Experimental set up was formulated for treatment / conversion of complex organic 
matter into simple organic compound. The size of cemented tank
 
used for sludge treatment
 
were 
3
.5
 
ft length x 2
.0 
ft breadth and 
3.0 
f
t depth 
for 
constructed reed bed system (CRBs)
. The CRBs was composed of a gravel bed supported below on a layer of 
pubbled, local clay. CRBs was planted with locally grown grass, Phragmites karka.
 
Performance of reed in CRBs for domestic 
waste was evaluat
ed for removal efficiency of some physico
-
chemical parameters
.
 
Plants placed in this rectangular design at the 
rate of 6 to 8 plants per
 
tank and p
arameters assessed
 
before
 
and after 15 days of intervals i.e. pH, conductivity, salinity, organic 
carbon, org
anic matter, total kzeldhal nitrogen (TKN), organic nitrogen (Org.
-
N), nitrate
-
nitrogen (NO
3
−N), ammonium nitrogen 
(NH
4
−N), and available phosphorus (Av.
-
P), total phosphorus (T
-
P)
 
while p
lant parameters fresh & dry weight of root, shoot, 
whole plant
 
bioma
ss 
and TKN in oven dry tissue
. 
Removal rates 
were analysed as 
 
TOC (48%), TKN (61%), NH
4
−N (50%), 
NO
3
−N (58%) and total phosphorus (65%) 
respectively
. The overall results established that it’s very cost
-
effective treatment 
technology and removal efficiency 
was 
above 50%. The use of reed beds provides an efficient alternati
ve for domestic sludge 
treatment.
 
 
Keywords:
 
C
onstructed reed bed systems (CRBs),
 
domestic 
s
ludge,
 
P
hragmites 
karka 
(reed)
, 
c
emented 
tank, 
c
ost
 
effective,
 
removal 
efficiency.           
 
 
Introduction
 
Domestic sludge contains essential nutrients and is 
potentially beneficial as fertilizers for crops /plants. Sludge is 
treated to 
remove or alter contaminants in order to minimize 
the impact of discharging into the environment in sustainable 
manner. Sludge is rich in organic content and nutrients like 
nitrogen, phosphorus and essential trace elements. Now a 
days
, the treatment and di
sposal of domestic sludge has 
become a major 
problem
 
to the human being, prompting 
widespread research and development into its possible reuse. 
M
ost of the research efforts
1
-
4
  
ha
s
 
been done to assess the 
fe
asibility of reusing the sludge
 
in the constructi
on and 
manufacturing 
process of 
industries
. 
Currently, some 
researchers try to find low
-
cost and environmental solution 
for septage handle and disposal like co
-
composting with 
organic waste, anaerobic digestion, settling ponds, 
settling/thickening tanks, s
ludge drying bed, constructed 
wetland
 
5
-
10
. 
 
 
 
The  ur
b
an
 
slu
d
ge
 
in
 
de
v
eloping
 
countr
i
es
 
a
r
e
 
t
h
e
 
victim
 
of
 
the 
city
,
 
because 
 
of t
h
e 
 
wide
n
ing 
 
g
a
p
 
between 
 
t
h
e 
 
incre
a
sing 
 
waste ge
n
e
r
ation 
 
and
 
unavailability 
 
o
f 
 
commiserating 
 
economical 
 
resources 
 
to 
 
address  
 
the 
 
issue 
 
through 
 
c
o
nventio
n
al techn
o
logies.
 
H
e
nce,
 
b
iolog
i
cal
 
m
achines
 
ma
y
 
p
rove
 
to
 
be
 
a
 
no
v
el
 
tool
 
for
 
susta
i
nable
 
mana
g
ement
 
of
 
domestic sludge
.
 
CRBs
 
being
 
nat
u
ral
,
 
biological
 
s
y
s
tems
 
operating
 
sol
e
ly
 
on
 
solar
 
e
n
er
g
y
 
is
 
low
 
cost and
 
almost
 
negligible
 
operation
 
and
 
mainte
n
a
nce 
11
-
1
2
.
 
 
CRBs 
utilizes the principle of plant uptake for sludge 
treatment, similar to constructed wetlands for wastewater 
treatment 
1
3
-
1
5
. 
 
 
Reed beds provide sludge dewatering through plant uptake, 
evapo
-
transpiration, and drainage. Reed beds chemically alter 
the sludge as the plants use nutrients and minerals in the 
sludge for growth. The final product is a well
-
decomposed, 
stabilized, humus
-
like residue suitable for land application
 
1
6
-
1
7
.
 
 
Sludge applie
d to reed beds is turned into a compost
-
like 
material that can be used as a soil conditioner. Reed beds act 
to dewater and reduce the organic content of the sludge, 
reduce the metals concentrations of the sludge, and stabilize 
the sludge for subsequent
 
dis
posal. This
 
research 
p
aper
 
is an
 
a
tte
m
pt
 
to
 
e
v
al
u
ate
 
the perfor
m
ance
 
eff
i
cie
nc
y
 
of
 
CRBs with 
various parameters in domestic sludge. 
 
 
 
Research Journal of 
Recent 
Sciences 
______
_
_
_______________________________
______________
_
______
 
ISSN
 
2277 
-
 
2502
 
Vol. 
1(
ISC
-
2011
), 
41
-
46
 
(201
2
)
 
Res.J.Recent.Sci
 
 
 
International Science Congress Association
 
 
42
 
Material and Methods
 
A
 
fie
l
d
 
scale
 
unit
 
of
 
Reedbed
 
syst
e
m
 
was
 
established at 
IEMPS
, Vikram
 
University 
i
n the 
sou
t
he
r
n 
area
 
of
 
Ujjain
 
(
75
o
43’ E lo
ng
itu
d
e 
23
o
09’ N
 
latit
ud
e,
 
491
m
 
a
b
o
v
e
 
m
ean
 
sea
 
le
v
el)
 
in the
 
state
 
of
 
Madhya
 
Prad
e
sh,
 
India.
 
The
 
cli
m
ate 
of
 
t
h
e
 
area
 
is
 
charact
e
rized
 
with
 
s
u
m
m
er, 
m
onsoon, pos
t
-
m
ons
oo
n and
 
w
i
n
t
er
 
s
e
as
o
n
s
.
 
A
b
o
u
t
 
90%
 
(
870
m
m.
)
 
o
f
 
th
e 
rai
n
fall
 
oc
cu
rs
 
d
u
ri
n
g 
m
onso
o
n (
m
id June 
t
o 
m
id 
Septe
m
ber)
.
 
The
 
av
e
rage
 
t
e
m
p
erature
 
v
ar
ies
 
bet
w
e
e
n
 
7
ºC
 
t
o 
38
ºC. T
he st
udy was carried out in two parts / phases:
 
 
C
onstruction
 
of CRBs
: 
Site selection:
 
Sampling sites were 
selected for sludge collection was Ravindera Nagar and 
Mahananda Nagar residential colony. Sludge was 
a
nlaysed 
for few physico
-
chemical 
parameters 
following standard 
protocol
1
8
. Physical parameters i.e. pH, 
d
ensity, 
m
oisture 
content
, colour 
and chemical parameters i.e. nitrogen, 
phosphorus, organic carbon & matter, C/N ratio were 
analysed. 
Plants parameters analysed were fresh & dry 
weight of shoot, root, whole plant and TKN in oven dry 
tissue.
 
 
Design
: 
After preliminary study design
 
were done for sludge 
treatment. The size of cemented tank w
as
 
3.5 ft length x 2.0 
ft breadth and 3.0 ft depth
, t
hree sets were taken for sludge 
treatment
,
 
o
ne set is control where no 
plant was grown
, in 
second set Ravindera Nagar sludge and in third set 
M
ahananda Nagar sludge was added respectively.
 
In the 
system bottom layer is filled with gravel, pebbles, sand and 
soil then sludge was added and reed grows in the sludge.
 
 
 
Planting of Reed (Phragmites karka)
:
 
Propagation
 
–
 
seed / 
seedling / rhizome / fiel
d collected plants. In each design / 
system reed plants from nursery were transplanted in 
6 to
 
8
 
number.
 
 
 
Reed growth
:
 
Morphology (Root 
-
 
Rhizome and Shoot 
length): The reed grass develops an extensive and dense root 
zone system, which spreads into the gravel beds of 
CRBs
. 
These plants absorb nutrients from the 
CRBs
 
through their 
root
-
rhizome system.
 
Biomass production: I
t 
increased 
tremendously
 
in root zone in both fresh weight and dry 
weight.  
 
 
P
erformance
 
e
valuation of the system with different Reed 
Sludge complex parameters
: 
The treatment potential of 
reed was assessed through various parameters as studied in 
physico
-
chemical characteristics. Fertility of Reed 
sludge 
com
plex was determined with 
various 
parameters analys
ed at 
15days interval
s.
  
CRBs 
are designed to optimize the
 
physical, chemical, and biological
 
processes naturally 
occurring in 
the 
system. The microorganisms that flouris
h in 
these systems can 
degrade a wide range of organic chemical 
compounds
 
into simpler compound. Optimization of sludge 
management can help 
in 
reducing sludge handling costs
.
 
C
RB
s
 
ty
p
i
ca
ll
y re
q
u
ire few
 
m
on
t
hs
 
fo
r
 
gro
wth of v
e
getation, 
bi
o
fi
l
m establish
m
ent and size
a
ble t
i
m
e for
 
d
e
velop
m
ent of 
litter.
 
 
 
T
h
e
 
a
v
aila
b
ility 
o
f a
m
p
le 
nu
t
rie
n
ts in
 
t
h
e domestic sludge 
thr
o
ugh t
h
e
 
CR
Bs
 
a
nd
 
tropical
 
warm 
climate fa
v
o
r
s t
h
e 
g
r
ow
t
h of plan
t
s. Analysis results 
(
table 1 
-
 
4) of 
pH indicate 
decrease from 7.9 to 6.9 and 8.10 to 7.15 at Mahananda 
nagar and Ravindera nagar respectively. 
The pH range 
between alkaline to neutral and n
o seasonal variations
 
observed
. Conductivity and salinity analysis depict that 
significant 
reduction 
occurred after treatment. It reduces from 
1.25 to 0.55mMho in Mahananda nagar sludge followed by 
1.30 to 0.60 mMho 
at 
Ravindera nagar sludge. 
It cannot alter 
soil type when used as soil
 
conditioners. 
Progressive organic 
matter removal and sludge stabilization in the beds was also 
observed. Organic carbon and matter reduces 44% in 
R
avindera nagar sludge while in 
M
ahananda nagar sludge it 
was 26% only.
 
This may be due to absorption of orga
nic 
carbon by reed plants for growth and development. Total 
nitrogen as well as other form of it decreases in sludge 
treatment. More reduction in total nitrogen 
at
 
M
aha
nanda 
nagar sludge followed by R
avindera nagar sludge
 
respectively
. Phosphorus content a
lso 
reduces
 
in both 
experimental set up. Nutrient removal during plant growing 
season averaged 60% for total 
k
jeldahl nitrogen, 73% for 
total phosphorus and 64% for organic matter. 
The reed grass 
develops an extensive and dense root zone system, which 
spre
ads into the gravel bed of constructed system. These 
plants absorb nutrients from the bottom through their root 
rhizome systems. Plant biomass fresh weight was 425g/m
2
 
and 412g/m
2
 
and dry weight 152g/m
2
 
and 162g/m
2
 
at 
Mahananda nagar sludge followed by Rav
indera nagar 
sludge respectively. The minimum and maximum 
concentration of TKN values were 0.327 ~ 16.120g/m
2
 
ODT 
of reed grown in Mahananda nagar domestic sludge followed 
by 0.335 ~ 16.058g/m
2
 
ODT of reed grown in Ravindera 
nagar domestic sludge respectiv
ely. 
 
 
Conclusion
 
The purpose of this 
study 
was to evaluate the effectiveness of 
CRBs 
system. 
CRBs 
are capable 
to convert domestic 
sludge 
in
to compost
-
like material 
which 
can be used as soil 
conditioner
. F
irst, the reed root system provides oxygen to 
the 
sludge, which increases the activity and population of 
microorganisms that mineralize the sludge; second, the 
growth of the plants makes use of the nutrients, minerals, and 
water in the sludge. The
 
CRBs
 
are simple to operate, without 
chemical additives or 
complex electronic controls, and are 
very low maintenance. Consequently, the energy and 
operational requirements of reed beds are very low.
 
Finally, 
CRBs 
are an effective, low
-
tech form of bioremediation
 
for 
the treatment of municipal and others sludges. 
I
t 
is an 
effective process using plant life to help in the necessary 
process of treating some of the byproducts of human 
communities
19
. 
 
Research Journal of 
Recent 
Sciences 
______
_
_
_______________________________
______________
_
______
 
ISSN
 
2277 
-
 
2502
 
Vol. 
1(
ISC
-
2011
), 
41
-
46
 
(201
2
)
 
Res.J.Recent.Sci
 
 
 
International Science Congress Association
 
 
43
 
Acknowledgements
 
Author extends thanks to Head, 
School of Studies in Botany
, 
Vikram University
, 
and Ujjain
 
for providing
 
necessary 
facility
 
for work
.
 
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Research Journal of 
Recent 
Sciences 
______
_
_
_______________________________
________________
_
 
ISSN
 
2277 
–
 
2502
 
Vol. 
1(
ISC
-
2011
), 
41
-
46
 
(201
2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
 
    
Res.J.Chem.Sci.
 
 
International Science Congress Association
 
 
44
 
Table 
–
 
1
 
Physico 
–
chemical characteristic of 
reed bed complex after treatment in
 
domestic sludge of Mahananda nagar
 
 
S.No.
 
Parameters
 
Initial
 
15days
 
%TP
 
30days
 
%TP
 
45days
 
%TP
 
60days
 
%TP
 
1
 
pH
 
7.90
 
7.70
 
2.53
 
7.50
 
5.06
 
7.40
 
6.33
 
7.20
 
8.86
 
2
 
Conductivity (mMho)
 
1.25
 
1.20
 
4.00
 
1.00
 
20.00
 
0.80
 
36.00
 
0.55
 
56.00
 
3
 
Salinity (%)
 
12.50
 
12.00
 
4.00
 
10.00
 
20.00
 
8.00
 
36.00
 
5.50
 
56.00
 
4
 
% Organic Carbon
 
38.00
 
37.00
 
2.63
 
33.00
 
13.16
 
30.00
 
21.05
 
28.00
 
26.32
 
5
 
%Organic Matter
 
65.51
 
63.79
 
2.63
 
56.89
 
13.16
 
51.72
 
21.05
 
48.27
 
26.32
 
6
 
% Moisture content
 
70.00
 
58.00
 
17.14
 
35.00
 
50.00
 
22.00
 
68.57
 
11.00
 
84.29
 
7
 
Bulk density (%)
 
1.75
 
1.71
 
2.29
 
1.62
 
7.43
 
1.53
 
12.57
 
1.41
 
19.43
 
8
 
Total Nitrogen (TKN)
 
37.10
 
35.70
 
3.77
 
25.90
 
30.19
 
20.60
 
44.47
 
12.17
 
67.20
 
9
 
Nitrate Nitrogen (NO
3
-
N
2
)
 
2.96
 
2.85
 
22.58
 
2.16
 
49.47
 
1.95
 
64.31
 
1.72
 
69.13
 
10
 
Ammonium Nitrogen 
(NH
4
-
N
2
)
 
41.00
 
39.20
 
4.39
 
28.60
 
30.24
 
19.80
 
51.71
 
11.20
 
72.68
 
11
 
Organic
-
Nitrogen
 
22.40
 
20.60
 
8.04
 
15.40
 
31.25
 
9.62
 
57.05
 
5.14
 
77.05
 
12
 
Available Phosphorus
 
6.40
 
5.90
 
7.81
 
4.10
 
35.94
 
3.50
 
45.31
 
2.70
 
57.81
 
13
 
Total 
Phosphorus
 
7.70
 
7.50
 
2.60
 
5.60
 
27.27
 
3.10
 
59.74
 
1.20
 
84.42
 
      
%TP Treatment performance
 
Table
-
2
 
Physico 
–
chemical characteristic of reed bed complex after treatment in
 
domestic sludge of Ravindera nagar
 
 
S.No.
 
Parameters
 
Initial
 
15d
ays
 
%TP
 
30d
ays
 
%TP
 
45d
ays
 
%TP
 
60d
ays
 
%TP
 
1
 
pH
 
8.10
 
7.90
 
2.47
 
7.70
 
4.94
 
7.60
 
6.17
 
7.40
 
8.64
 
2
 
Conductivity
(mMho)
 
1.30
 
1.20
 
7.69
 
1.00
 
23.08
 
0.75
 
42.31
 
0.60
 
53.85
 
3
 
Salinity
 
(%)
 
13.00
 
12.00
 
7.69
 
10.00
 
23.08
 
7.50
 
42.31
 
6.00
 
53.85
 
4
 
% Organic Carbon
 
42.50
 
41.40
 
2.59
 
38.50
 
9.41
 
30.10
 
29.18
 
23.70
 
44.24
 
5
 
%O
rganic 
M
atter
 
73.27
 
71.37
 
2.59
 
66.37
 
9.41
 
51.89
 
29.18
 
40.86
 
44.24
 
6
 
% Moisture content
 
80.00
 
71.00
 
11.25
 
58.00
 
27.50
 
35.00
 
56.25
 
14.00
 
82.50
 
7
 
Bulk density
 
(%)
 
1.95
 
1.90
 
2.56
 
1.65
 
15.38
 
1.32
 
32.31
 
0.90
 
53.85
 
8
 
Total 
Nitrogen
 
(
TKN
)
 
40.60
 
39.90
 
1.72
 
33.10
 
18.47
 
21.00
 
48.28
 
15.00
 
63.05
 
9
 
Nitrate Nitrogen
 
(
NO
3
-
N
2
)
 
3.50
 
3.30
 
27.59
 
2.90
 
44.44
 
2.20
 
51.39
 
1.90
 
60.53
 
10
 
Ammonium Nitrogen 
(
NH
4
-
N
2
)
 
42.70
 
41.30
 
3.28
 
34.80
 
18.50
 
24.90
 
41.69
 
13.20
 
69.09
 
11
 
Org
anic
-
Nitrogen
 
24.60
 
22.90
 
6.91
 
15.80
 
35.77
 
10.10
 
58.94
 
4.60
 
81.30
 
12
 
Av
ailable 
P
hosphorus
 
6.80
 
6.60
 
2.94
 
5.10
 
25.00
 
4.30
 
36.76
 
2.70
 
60.29
 
13
 
T
otal 
P
hosphorus
 
7.50
 
7.20
 
4.00
 
5.10
 
32.00
 
2.50
 
66.67
 
1.00
 
86.67
 
       
%TP Treatment performance 
 
 
 
 
Research Journal of 
Recent 
Sciences 
______
_
_
_______________________________
________________
_
 
ISSN
 
2277 
–
 
2502
 
Vol. 
1(
ISC
-
2011
), 
41
-
46
 
(201
2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
 
    
Res.J.Chem.Sci.
 
 
International Science Congress Association
 
 
45
 
Table
-
3
 
Average results of 
plant growth (
Phragmites karka
) in CRBs for Mahananda nagar
 
Domestic sludge after three consecutive year
 
S.No.
 
Month
 
Plant Biomass Production (g/m
2
)
 
 
Shoot FW (DW)
 
Root + Rhizome
 
FW
 
(DW)
 
Whole plant
 
 
FW
 
(DW)
 
TKN g/m
2
 
 
ODT
 
1
 
January
 
18.64
 
(2.79)
 
6.79
 
(0.95)
 
25.43
 
(3.74)
 
0.285
 
2
 
February
 
31.95
 
(8.66)
 
15.20
 
(2.15)
 
47.15
 
(10.81)
 
0.863
 
3
 
March
 
56.81
 
(14.80)
 
25.75
 
(4.50)
 
82.56
 
(19.30)
 
2.170
 
4
 
April
 
78.50
 
(18.25)
 
33.05(8.20)
 
111.55
 
(26.45)
 
3.984
 
5
 
May
 
92.17
 
(24.50)
 
42.60
 
(11.40)
 
134.77
 
(35.90)
 
6.115
 
6
 
June
 
125.65
 
(44.60)
 
59.87
 
(15.70)
 
185.52
 
(60.30)
 
7.953
 
7
 
July
 
153.86
 
(63.45)
 
76.10
 
(19.20)
 
229.96
 
(82.65)
 
9.711
 
8
 
August
 
180.72
 
(79.23)
 
93.50
 
(23.80)
 
274.22
 
(103.03)
 
10.628
 
9
 
September
 
195.64
 
(102.50)
 
102.75
 
(30.55)
 
298.39
 
(133.05)
 
12.109
 
10
 
October
 
225.79
 
(110.40)
 
117.52
 
(40.90)
 
343.31
 
(151.30)
 
13.951
 
11
 
November
 
253.60
 
(115.80)
 
129.65(42.85)
 
383.25
 
(158.65)
 
15.017
 
12
 
December
 
289.13
 
(125.15)
 
133.20
 
(46.80)
 
422.33
 
(171.95)
 
15.955
 
ODT : Oven dry tissue
 
 
 
 
Research Journal of 
Recent 
Sciences 
______
_
_
_______________________________
________________
_
 
ISSN
 
2277 
–
 
2502
 
Vol. 
1(
ISC
-
2011
), 
41
-
46
 
(201
2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
 
    
Res.J.Chem.Sci.
 
 
International Science Congress Association
 
 
46
 
 
 
 
Table
-
4
 
Average results of 
plant growth
 
(
Phragmites karka
) in CRBs for Ravindera nagar 
 
Domestic sludge after three consecutive years
 
S.No.
 
Month
 
Plant Biomass Production (g/m
2
)
 
Shoot FW
 
(DW)
 
Root + Rhizome
 
FW (DW)
 
Whole plant
 
 
FW (DW)
 
TKN g/m
2
 
 
ODT
 
1
 
January
 
16.96
 
(2.41)
 
6.17
 
(0.85)
 
23.13
 
(3.26)
 
0.310
 
2
 
February
 
33.45
 
(8.24)
 
13.45
 
(2.35)
 
46.90
 
(10.59)
 
0.952
 
3
 
March
 
58.70
 
(13.50)
 
27.85
 
(5.15)
 
86.55
 
(18.65)
 
2.967
 
4
 
April
 
82.79
 
(17.12)
 
36.25
 
(7.75)
 
119.04
 
(24.87)
 
4.158
 
5
 
May
 
95.09
 
(22.40)
 
44.56
 
(9.50)
 
139.65
 
(31.90)
 
6.439
 
6
 
June
 
120.36
 
(41.58)
 
56.98
 
(14.37)
 
177.34
 
(55.95)
 
8.102
 
7
 
July
 
155.62
 
(61.05)
 
79.25
 
(18.20)
 
234.87
 
(79.25)
 
9.863
 
8
 
August
 
183.15
 
(77.60)
 
91.45
 
(22.68)
 
274.60
 
(100.28)
 
11.052
 
9
 
September
 
198.00
 
(89.50)
 
99.57
 
(28.15)
 
297.57
 
(117.65)
 
12.518
 
10
 
October
 
228.10
 
(97.20)
 
115.35
 
(38.47)
 
343.45
 
(135.67)
 
14.280
 
11
 
November
 
243.60
 
(109.65)
 
124.70
 
(43.88)
 
368.30
 
(153.53)
 
15.488
 
12
 
December
 
268.90
 
(122.20)
 
130.90
 
(44.70)
 
399.80
 
(166.90)
 
15.870
 
    
ODT:
 
Oven dry tissu
 
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