Short-term Effects of Applying Olive Mill Waste on Turfgrass

Abstract

The reuse of wastes in agriculture and landscape is often viewed as one way to conserve existing resources. Among the organic waste materials produced by agricultural activities, olive mill wastes derived from the olive oil extraction process may represent a suitable soil amendment. This study evaluated the effect of olive mill wastewater (OMW) application on turfgrass growth and quality and on soil electrical conductivity and pH. Olive mill wastewater at different doses (0, 3.0, and 6.0 L/m2) was applied on a sodded turfgrass grown in clay loamy soil, identically irrigated with fresh water, and without any chemical fertilizer application. The results revealed that OMW application had a positive effect on the tested turfgrass, improving visual quality and increasing the dry weight of the clipping yield, in proportion to doses applied. An increase in electrical conductivity was observed in wastewater-irrigated soil while OMW did not remarkably change the initial soil pH.