Vetiver and Dictyosphaerium sp. co-culture for the removal of nutrients and ecological inactivation of pathogens in swine wastewater.

•The wastewater was significantly acidified by plant root respiration.•Algal culture alleviated hypoxia stress and bicarbonate toxicity for the plants.•Oxygen from algal photosynthesis could enhance nutrient removal in the wastewater.•The co-culture significantly increased rapidity in the wastewater treatment.•Pathogens could be ecologically inactivated in the co-culture.