Nutrient uptake by plants in nutrient-richwater in competitive conditions was investigated withtwo mixed culture combinations ofLimnocharis flava/Pistia stratiotesandLimnocharis flava/Ipomoeaaquaticaby using various initial planting densities.Further, the biomass production and other growth-related parameters were measured to understand thedominant competitive behavior. The effects of inter-specific competition on influencing nutrient uptakewere substantial. In both experiments, the superiorcompetitor produced a higher biomass regardless ofthe initial density, which was the dominant factor indetermining the total nutrient uptake from water. Bothaboveground competition and belowground competi-tion appeared to be important in influencing compet-itive outcomes. Optimal removal of nutrients wasproduced by a treatment ratio of 5.31: 5.31Lim-nocharis flava/Ipomoea aquaticaplants/m2, whichgave the highest observed nutrient removal, of whichapproximately 52% of TN removal and 90% of TPremoval were due to plant uptake.

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