Traditionally constructed wetlands face significant limitations in treating tailwater from wastewater treatment plants, especially those associated with sugar mills. However, the advent of novel modified surface flow constructed wetlands offer a promising solution. This study aimed to assess the microbial community composition and compare the efficiencies of contaminant removal across different treatment wetlands: CW1 (Brick rubble, lignite, and Lemna minor L.), CW2 (Brick rubble and lignite), and CW3 (Lemna minor L.). The study also examined the impact of substrate and vegetation on the wetland systems. For a hydraulic retention time of 7 days, CW1 successfully removed more pollutants than CW2 and CW3. CW1 demonstrated removal rates of 72.19% for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), 74.82% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), 79.62% for NH₄⁺-N, 77.84% for NO₃⁻-N, 87.73% for ortho phosphorous (OP), 78% for total dissolved solids (TDS), 74.1% for total nitrogen (TN), 81.07% for total phosphorous (TP), and 72.90% for total suspended solids (TSS). Furthermore, high-throughput sequencing analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that CW1 exhibited elevated Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson indices, with values of 1324.46, 8.8172, and 0.9941, respectively. The most common bacterial species in the wetland system were Proteobacteria, Spirochaetota, Bacteroidota, Desulfobacterota, and Chloroflexi. The denitrifying bacterial class Rhodobacteriaceae also had the highest content ratio within the wetland system. These results confirm that CW1 significantly improves the performance of water filtration. Therefore, this research provides valuable insights for wastewater treatment facilities aiming to incorporate surface flow-constructed wetland tailwater enhancement initiatives.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination threatens human health and plant growth due to its accumulation in edible parts. The sole application of phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria (PSB), biochar (BC), and phosphorus (P) effectively mitigates Cd’s adverse effects in contaminated agricultural systems. However, further investigation into their combined impacts on Cd toxicity and maize (Zea mays) production is essential. This study evaluates the synergistic effects of PSB (10 g kg⁻¹ of Bacillus megaterium), BC (5% w/w), and P (0.8 g kg⁻¹) on soil properties and the morphological and physiological traits of maize cultivated in agricultural soil contaminated with Cd (20 mg kg⁻¹). The study revealed that Cd toxicity negatively impacts soil properties, reducing shoot and root biomass, lowering chlorophyll content, and heightening oxidative stress levels. Conversely, the combined use of P, PSB, and BC markedly improved soil properties, increasing the organic matter by 175.94%, available K by 87.24%, and available P by 306.93% compared to the control. This combination also improved maize growth metrics, with increases in aboveground dry biomass (92.98%), root dry biomass (110.33%), chlorophyll a (28.20%), chlorophyll b (108.34%), and total chlorophyll (37.17%). Notably, the treatment reduced Cd concentrations in maize leaves by 61.08% while increasing soil Cd levels by 31.12% compared to the control group. Overall, the synergistic effect of P-BC-PSB is an eco-friendly strategy for mitigating Cd toxicity in contaminated soil. However, further studies are required to explore its effects and molecular mechanisms on other crops.

The Moe Yun Gyi constructed wetland in Myanmar, located along the East Asian–Australian bird migration path, serves as a crucial habitat for migrating waterbirds. Protecting this biodiverse habitat is crucial in the face of ongoing threats, highlighting the need for effective conservation strategies. This study aims to evaluate the effects of the restoration on the populations of waterbirds from January 2014 to January 2024, by analyzing the composition and the spatiotemporal dynamics of waterbirds communities, with particular reference to changes in diversity. We measured waterbird quantity and species richness using the point count method, employing the Shannon-Wiener and D_G–F Index formulae for diversity analysis. Habitat analysis was conducted with ArcGIS 10.6 and eCognition 10.3, while data analysis utilized RStudio and Microsoft Excel. The results indicate that restoration efforts in 2016 initially led to a decline in waterbird populations. Restoration efforts after 2017 resulted in a twofold increase in both diversity and abundance. However, in 2023, flooding in Bago City caused a decline in waterbird populations, impacting habitat rehabilitation. There was a notable rise in uncommon waterbird populations, especially threatened Pelecaniformes. The community’s richness has partially recovered, but seasonal water level volatility continues to impact diversity. The application of restoration techniques directly alters the extent and depth of water bodies, which are essential parameters for supporting appropriate waterbird habitats. We propose implementing a rational system for managing water levels, optimizing wetland hydrology, and enhancing water level regulation to safeguard significant resting areas along migration paths.