Long-Term Spreading of Olive Mill Wastewater on Olive Orchard: Effects on Olive Production, Oil Quality, and Soil Properties

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn Italy, the law no 574 of 1996 permits and regulates the disposal of olive mill wastewater (OMW), the liquid by-product obtained in oil mill when olive fruits are processed to extract virgin olive oil, by its controlled spreading on cultivated soil. With the aim to verify the long-term effects of the practice on olive production, oil quality, and physical–chemical and microbiological characteristics of soil, different amounts of OMW were spread in February, for 9 years consecutively, on soil cultivated with olive trees. The results obtained confirmed that the controlled spreading of OMW is not harmful for the plant production. On the contrary, OMW spread on olive grove is useful for the fertility of soil and the growth of microflora for the important supply of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and, above all, of organic matter. The evaluated biological properties indicated that OMW spreading stimulates the growth of soil fungal and fungus-like communities and aerobic N2 fix micro-organisms. With regard to the oil quality, the data indicate that no significant differences were ascertained on the analyzed parameters.