Assessment of the influence of urban stormwater runoff on the growth of Spiraea prunifolia var. simpliciflora

Abstract

Plants applied to low impact development (LID) technologies reduce stormwater runoff pollutants through bioaccumulation of nutrients, heavy metals, and other pollutants during photosynthesis and respiration, and contributed to the restoration of natural water cycle through evapotranspiration. However, studies on the type of pollutants and environmental factors affecting Spiraea prunifolia var. simpliciflora growth LID technologies were still insufficient. Therefore, this study assessed the contaminants and environmental factors affecting the Spiraea prunifolia var. simpliciflora applied to LID techniques. In this study, a planter and a rain garden, which has different environmental conditions, were assessed. Amount of chlorophyll varied according to the TN and TP concentrations was also found to be essential for vegetation growth. In addition, it was also found that the influent concentration has a large influence on vegetation growth. The chlorophyll concentration was observed to be higher in the inflow part of both the planter and rain garden. The difference of chlorophyll content between the inflow part and outflow part was larger in the planter than that of the rain garden.