Evaluation of the use of eucalyptus to control algae bloom and improve water quality.

Lakes represent an important source of drinking water resource for human beings. The presence of harmful algae blooms can pose a serious threat to lakes water quality. This study explored the feasibility of using eucalyptus plants and leaves extracts for controlling algae proliferation in an aquatic milieu. After 30 days of treatment, the inhibitory efficiencies were 85.8% and 20.9% for treatments planting eucalyptus and eucalyptus leaves extracts, respectively. The synergistic effects of allelopathy and competitive absorption for macro nutrients were attributed to the effective control of algae proliferation in the mesocosm systems. Moreover, the analysis of microbial community structures indicated that eucalyptus plants or leaves extracts had no adverse effect on species diversity and their relative abundance. The choice of using eucalyptus to control algae bloom will be dictated by environmental and economic considerations within a geographical region.