Denitrification is the main process that remove nitrate from the water in wetlands. Plants can supply denitrifying bacteria with organic carbon and suitable attachment surfaces (Weisner et al. 1994). They also promote the development of anaerobic conditions through litter accumulation and decomposition, which would favour denitrification. The presence of plants has been shown to enhance nitrate removal in field studies (Bachand and Horne 2000). Toet et al. (2005) found a higher nitrogen removal in wetland compartments with emergent plants than with submersed plants. Results from microcosm studies have shown that the potential for denitrification is specific for different plant species (Bastviken et al. 2005).

Wetlands may typically exist in alternative states, dominated by different kinds of vegetation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of alternative state on nitrogen removal under controlled conditions in experimental wetlands.