The studies on total phosphorus (TP) removal in landscape type and vegetable type horizontal subsurface flow wetlands were conducted. The raw water was domestic sewage which has been treated by biochemical treatment processes. The TP removal efficiency of different wetland units were compared and analysed. To optimize the design of wetlands

the first order reaction kinetics model and the Monod model were used to simulate the TP removal results and their accuracy were compared. Meanwhile

the relationship between water temperature

hydraulic loading rate (q) and the reaction coefficients were discussed. The results showed that in landscape type wetlands

the order of TP removal capacity was canna unit >thalia dealbata unit >iris tectorum unit

while it was water spinach unit >zizania unit >tomato unit in vegetable type wetland units

which was attributed to the biomass difference of different plants. The comparative evaluation between the first order kinetics model (ME: 0.53—0.72) and the Monod model (ME: 0.76—0.86) showed that the Monod model had higher accuracy in predicting the TP removal results. Decreased values of areal removal efficiency of TP were observed at lower water temperature. The Kmax of canna (θ=1.006)

thalia dealbata (θ=1.008) and water spinach units (θ=1.006) were insensitive to the change of water temperature. The water temperature had a great influence on TP removal efficiency of iris tectorum (θ=1.015) and zizania (θ=1.014) units. The increased values of Kmax20 were observed at higher q values. The power equations (R2: 0.657; 0.805) can well reflected the relationship between Kmax20 and q. The constructed Monod model

which had considered the influence of water temperature and q on Kmax

gave a certain accuracy in predicting TP removal of experimental wetlands.