Optimal seed germination conditions for cattail bio-platform remediation system

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Curry Industries Ltd. in Winnipeg MB, has developed a prototype for a Cattail Bio-Platform HarvestingSystemTM that allows for the controlled growth of cattails on a floating frame in an aquatic system withelevated nutrients to allow for growth of this potential bioremediator in deeper waters. By encouraging thegrowth of cattails in these systems, nutrients are removed from the water column, thus reducing the availabilityof nutrients to other bloom-forming algal and cyanobacterial species. The cattails can then be harvested at theend of the growing season, and the biomass can be composted on land and used as fertilizer for gardens orcropland. The proposed ENGAGE grant will establish a collaborative research partnership between theapplicant and Curry Industries, Ltd to determine the optimal seeding conditions to maximize cattail growth.The Bio-Platforms will be more easily scalable to deploy in large volumes if a reliable and simple method ofcattail seeding can be developed. In this study, we will determine the germination rates and ideal seed plantingdensity to maximize cattail germination and growth in the Bio-platforms.