TY - JOUR
T1 - Olive mill wastewater irrigation of maize
T2 - Impacts on soil and groundwater
AU - Moraetis, D.
AU - Stamati, F. E.
AU - Nikolaidis, N. P.
AU - Kalogerakis, N.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was partially funded by European Union project LIFE05ENV/GR/000245 EE-EnviFriendly ( www.EnviFriendly.tuc.gr ). We would like also to acknowledge the contribution of Anna Androulaki, Stauros Navrozidis, Konstantinos Annousis, George Katsimalis, Vassilios Papadoulakis, Elpida Peroulaki, Ourania Tzoraki, and Katerina Valta, for field and laboratory assistance. Critical review and professional editing of the manuscript was done by V.S. Nikolaidis.
PY - 2011/5/15
Y1 - 2011/5/15
N2 - The environmental impact of irrigating a maize field with weathered olive mill wastewater (OMW) for 5 years was assessed. The use of the weathered OMW added the following concentrations of nutrients to the field: 11.8. t/ha/yr carbon, 1033. kg/ha/yr total nitrogen, 23.8. kg/ha/yr phosphorous and 4161. kg/ha/yr potassium. The maize field received 6 times more nitrogen, 50 times more potassium and 2 times less phosphorous than the recommended fertilization rates. The presence of carbon increased microbial activity for organic nitrogen breakdown and the decomposition rate of organic nitrogen. No significant increase was observed of heavy metal accumulation in the soil. Electrical conductivity in the soil remained below the salinization threshold. No direct exposure values were exceeded. No impact on groundwater quality was observed. Irrigation of crops like maize with weathered OMW could be part of a viable decentralized solution for olive mill wastewater use in areas with low organic matter and high irrigation demand.
AB - The environmental impact of irrigating a maize field with weathered olive mill wastewater (OMW) for 5 years was assessed. The use of the weathered OMW added the following concentrations of nutrients to the field: 11.8. t/ha/yr carbon, 1033. kg/ha/yr total nitrogen, 23.8. kg/ha/yr phosphorous and 4161. kg/ha/yr potassium. The maize field received 6 times more nitrogen, 50 times more potassium and 2 times less phosphorous than the recommended fertilization rates. The presence of carbon increased microbial activity for organic nitrogen breakdown and the decomposition rate of organic nitrogen. No significant increase was observed of heavy metal accumulation in the soil. Electrical conductivity in the soil remained below the salinization threshold. No direct exposure values were exceeded. No impact on groundwater quality was observed. Irrigation of crops like maize with weathered OMW could be part of a viable decentralized solution for olive mill wastewater use in areas with low organic matter and high irrigation demand.
KW - Environmental impacts
KW - Marginal water
KW - Non-conventional fertilization
KW - Water scarcity
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U2 - 10.1016/j.agwat.2011.02.006
DO - 10.1016/j.agwat.2011.02.006
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79955124261
SN - 0378-3774
VL - 98
SP - 1125
EP - 1132
JO - Agricultural Water Management
JF - Agricultural Water Management
IS - 7
ER -
