Evaluation of the Efficiency of Some Hydrophytes for Trapping Suspended Matters from Different Aquatic Ecosystems

The efficiency of different investigated hydrophytes for trapping suspended particles and epiphytes from different water sources (River Nile, canals and drains) during different seasons was studied. Species that form canopies e.g., Potamogeton pectinatus were found as poor trapping, Myriophyllum spictum and Ceratophyllum demersum that form dense understories, were found to be highly efficient for suspended particles traps. The floating hydrophytes Eichhornia crassipes fixed valuable amounts of sediments through its root system. Also, the present data indicated factors affecting the trapping efficiencies of investigated hydrophytes to avoid wrong weighing of fresh hydrophytes as a result to trapping suspended particles as follows (Wr = W0 x F) whereas Wr = real wt., W0 = fresh wt. and F = factor detected in each species. In conclusion, trapping of suspended silt and clay may lead to protection of the plant from harmful chemicals due to sprout it on its surface by colloidal affinities or opposite charges. Also, supplies the plant with essential minerals especially under unfavourable conditions. This may explain to some extent, the abilities of some hydrophytes like E. crassipes to overcome the nutrient and mineral deficiency in outer media via picking up its nutrient requirements from suspended particles trapped by its root which acts as minerals store. Also we can study the using of these plants as tools to filtrates the water from impurities (organic and inorganic) for industerial and sanitaries purposes.