Summary:

Due to their ability to uptake and accumulate trace elements, as well as to regenerate after cutting, some species of willow and reed have been used for many years in environmental protection to purify sewage and neutralize sludge.
The paper presents the results of the investigation on selected chemical properties of the osier willow shrubs (Salix viminalis L.) and common reed (Phragmites australis Cav. Trin. Ex Steud.) cut every year. The research was conducted on ground-plant beds in two small sewage treatment plants in the Lubelskie voivodeship in 2002-2004. Both plants use a similar wastewater treatment technology. Their bed areas, the ways in sewage is supplied, hydraulic loading, and pollutant load are different, though.
According to the results, willow stems show a greater ability to accumulate nitrogen and phosphorus than reed stems. However, the potassium content in both willow and reed is at a similar level. Plants do not uptake nutrients from sewage for a whole year but only in a vegetation season. Yearly removal of plants from the ground-plant beds advisable due to high concentration of assimilated nutrients in leaves and stems. In flora remains on the bed, nutrient release to an environment occurs and the concentration of liberated may increase in the outflowing sewage.
Owing to high nutrient content, reed blades and willow leaves may be used after composting for soil fertilization. Besides the use of willow in water purification, this plant is commonly used for wickerworks. Willow may be also used as the fascine to protect river and channel banks as well as to revet. Apart from sewage treatment plants, above ground reed sprouts are used in building industry, in the production of insulating mats (damp course) and roofing. Reed is also the raw material in paper industry, in the production of cellulose.