Green Technology Research : Photovoltaic Systems






	Components
	Driving Factors in Plant Selection

	In selecting plants for bioremediation, designers must first consider the pollutants to be mitigated. The following is a list of typical pollutant loads (lbs/acre annually) from urban land uses:

	1) Solids: TSS Total Suspended Solids: 400 2) Phosphorus: TP Total Phosphorus: .7 3) Nitrogen: TKN Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen: 5.1 NH3-N Ammonia-nitrogen: 2 N02-N nitrite-nitrogen:2.9 4) Oxygen-demanding substances: BOD Biochemical oxygen demand: 47 COD Chemical oxygen demand: 270 5) Metals: Lead:Pb: .8 Zinc: Zn: .8 Copper: Cu: .04
	More specifically, the following are pollutants produced specifically by automobiles:
	1) From vehicle fuels and fluids: Solids, pathogens, do demands, metals, oils 2) From fuel combustion: Oils 3) From vehicle and brake wear: solids, metals
	*Plant Palette*
	Research indicates that plants serve mainly as filters rather than as uptakers of pollutants. When used for filtration, plants should have dense uniform growth and fine stems, and be tolerant of the area’s climate, soil, and pest conditions.
	The following infiltration swale plants meet the above criteria:
	California project palette
	Scientific Name/Common Name: Eleocharis palustris Spike Rush Anemopsis californica Yerba Manza Lilium pardolinum Water Lilly Backbay Scirpus maritimus Bull Rush Scirpus californica Bull Rush Distichlis spicata Salt Grass Juncus patens Common Rush Cyperus eragrostis Common Cyprus Juncus phaeocephalus Brown Headed Creeping Rush Berm Artemesia californica California Sagebrush Baccaris pilularis Diplacus duranliucus Monkeyflower Elymus condensatus Giant Ryegrass Bank Plantanus racemosa Western Sycamore Populus fremonti Fremont Cottonwood Acer negundo Boxelder Quercus agrifolia Live Oak Prunus lyonii Catalina Cherry Geteromeles arbutifolia Rhus integrifolia Lemonade Berry Nassella pulchra Purple Needlegrass Berberis nevinii Barkberry Rubus ursinus California Blackberry Artemesia douglasii Mugwort Rosa californica California Wild Rose

	Northwest Project Palette Wetlands seed mix: p. 5.5.4-2 Creeping red fescue (Pennlawn) 40% Red top (Agrostis Alba) 30% Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus Corniculatus) 30%
	Apply this mix at a rate of 60 pounds per acre, adding cattail, yellow iris, bull rush, and slough (carex) sedge tubers if desired.
	Note: The first example above is from California (Groves), the second from Washington (King County); designers should tailor their plant selection to the climate, soil, and pest conditions as noted above.