Evaluation of Cation and Anion Leaching in a Soil after Treatment with Alperujo

M. AGUIRRE, J.M. OTTOGALLI, L. SUÑE; M. AGUIRRE, J.M. OTTOGALLI, L. SUÑE; M. AGUIRRE, J.M. OTTOGALLI, L. SUÑE; V. ELISEI; N.J. GARCÍA

San Juan

Simposio; VII International Symposium on Olive growing; 2012

National Institute for Agricultural Technology (INTA), National University of San Juan (UNSJ), Catholic University of Cuyo (UCC)

The southwestern area of the Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, has suitable ecological conditions for growing olive trees, therefore several oil factories have been established in the area next to the town of Aparicio and the city of Coronel Dorrego. Since oil is extracted by two-phase system, the by-product alperujo is obtained. For the year 2012, it is estimated a production of about 2,000 tonne (t) of olives which represents a total of 1,500 t of alperujo. This waste has been used as soil amendment due to its fertilizing properties; however its high level of phenols and salts could also cause contamination to both the environment and percolation water. Through an experiment carried out at the lab, this paper evaluates the evolution of soluble inorganic ions and exchangeable cations in a soil, classified as Petrocalcic Paleudolls, after treatments with four doses of alperujo: 0, 20, 40 and 80 t ha-1. Once alperujo was applied to Ap horizon, deionized water was poured onto the soil in four steps up to an amount equivalent to 669 mm of rain whenever the soil reached field capacity. The leachate series showed that composition of inorganic ions have predominance of Ca2++Mg2+, Na+ and HCO3; that pH increases until values close to eight; and that electrical conductivity reaches values between 0.42 and 0.63 dSm-1 for 0 and 80 t respectively. As a result of water percolation, cations at the exchangeable complex ofthe Ap horizon experience a decreasing process, according to de following trend Na+>K+>Ca2++Mg2+. The remaining horizons showed an enrichment of K+ when alperujo increases. At the amounts evaluated, the application of alperujo did not have adverse effects on the soil.-1. Once alperujo was applied to Ap horizon, deionized water was poured onto the soil in four steps up to an amount equivalent to 669 mm of rain whenever the soil reached field capacity. The leachate series showed that composition of inorganic ions have predominance of Ca2++Mg2+, Na+ and HCO3; that pH increases until values close to eight; and that electrical conductivity reaches values between 0.42 and 0.63 dSm-1 for 0 and 80 t respectively. As a result of water percolation, cations at the exchangeable complex ofthe Ap horizon experience a decreasing process, according to de following trend Na+>K+>Ca2++Mg2+. The remaining horizons showed an enrichment of K+ when alperujo increases. At the amounts evaluated, the application of alperujo did not have adverse effects on the soil.