Short-term impact of olive mill wastewater (OMWW) applications on the physico-chemical and microbiological soil properties of an olive grove in Argentina

PIERANTOZZI, PIERLUIGI; TORRES, MARIELA; VERDENELLI, ROMINA; BASANTA, MARÍA; MAESTRI, DAMIÁN; MERILES, JOSÉ

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART B - PESTICIDES, FOOD CONTAMINANTS, AND AGRICULTURAL WASTES

TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2013 vol. 48 p. 393 - 401

0360-1234

The purpose of this work was to investigate the effects of olive oil mill wastewater (OMWW) spreading on some soil biochemical parameters and olive grove production, in an organically managed olive orchard. The experiment was carried out with three different doses of OMWW (80, 160 and 500 m3 ha-1) and a control (untreated soil). Three samplings were done 10, 30 and 90 days after administration of the subproduct. OMWW application differentially modified the biochemical properties of the soil analyzed. Organic matter, organic carbon, total nitrogen and extractable phosphorus soil contents grew proportionally with increasing doses. The values of these parameters decreased gradually with time. Total microbial activity was altered and OMWW 500 m3ha-1 treatment proved to be the most active when compared with the other doses used. OMWW agricultural application also modified the structure of soil microbial communities, particularly affecting Gram positive and negative bacteria while fungal biomass did not show consistent changes. Although there was a salinity increase in the treated soil, especially with the highest dose, the productive parameters analyzed (fruit and oil tree-1) were not affected. Considering the results obtained, we consider that low dose OMWW soil treatment may be an alternative farming practice in semiarid regions.