Skip to main content

Evaluation of phytotoxicity effect of olive mill wastewater treated by different technologies on seed germination of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research volume 22, pages 9127–9135 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Olive-mill wastewater (OMW) is a by-product effluent of olive oil extraction process that is produced in large amount in the Mediterranean region. OMW is believed to induce phytotoxic effect on organisms including seed germination and plant growth. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of untreated and treated OMW with different techniques on seed germination of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The following treatments were investigated: (1) tap water (control); (2) OMW treated by aerobic biological technology in a Jacto Reactor (JR); (3) OMW treated by solar fenton oxidation (SFO); (4) OMW treated by microfiltration followed by nanofiltration (MF+NF); (5) OMW treated by microfiltration followed by reverse osmosis (MF+RO) process; (6) diluted OMW with tap water (25 % OMW); (7) diluted OMW with tap water (50 % OMW); (8) diluted OMW with tap water (75 % OMW); and (9) untreated OMW (100 % OMW). A germination test was conducted in an incubator at temperature of 23 ∘C. In each petri dish, a filter paper was mounted and ten seeds of barley were placed on the filter paper. Five milliliter of water were added to each petri dish. The seed germination was determined by counting the number of germinated seeds to calculate the percentage of germination (G %). Germination rate index (GRI), seed vigor index (SVI), and phytotoxicity index (PI) were also calculated. Then, the dry weights and lengths of the shoots and the roots of the germinated seeds were measured. The results show that 100, 75, and 50 %OMW were very phytotoxic and completely prohibited seed germination. However, phytotoxicity decreased significantly following treatments of OMW with all techniques investigated and by the 25 % OMW dilution, as results of removing the phenols and other phytotoxic organic compounds from the OMW or by diluting it. This was evidenced by relative enhancement of the dry weights and lengths of shoot and root as well as the G %, GRI, SVG, and PI. It was concluded that if OMW will be used for irrigating crops, it has to be first treated or diluted with tap water at a ratio of 1:3 OMW:water at least. The most efficient treatment techniques in reducing the phytotoxicity of OMW were the MF+RO, followed by SFO and JR.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

References

  • Aggelis G, Iconomou D, Christou M, Bokas D, Kotzailias S, Christou G, Tsagou V, Papanikolaou S (2003) Phenolic removal in a model olive oil mill wastewater using pleurotus ostreatus in bioreactor cultures and biological evaluation of the process. Water Res 37(16):3897–3904

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akbari G, Sanavy SAMM, Yousefzadeh S (2007) Effect of auxin and salt stress (nacl) on seed germination of wheat cultivars (triticum aestivum l.) Pak J Biol Sci 10(15):2557–2561

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Altieri R, Esposito A (2008) Olive orchard amended with two experimental olive mill wastes mixtures: effects on soil organic carbon, plant growth and yield. Bioresour Technol 99(17):8390–8393

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ansari O, Sharif-Zadeh F (2012) Osmo and hydro priming improvement germination characteristics and enzyme activity of mountain rye (secale montanum) seeds under drought stress. J Stress Physiol Biochem 8(4):253–261

    Google Scholar 

  • APHA (1992) Standard mehods for the exmnination of water and wastewater, 18th Edition. American Public Health Association, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Arienzo M, Capasso R (2000) Analysis of metal cations and inorganic anions in olive oil mill waste waters by atomic absorption spectroscopy and ion chromatography. detection of metals bound mainly to the organic polymeric fraction. J Agric Food Chem 48(4):1405–1410

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aviani I, Raviv M, Hadar Y, Saadi I, Laor Y (2009) Original and residual phytotoxicity of olive mill wastewater revealed by fractionations before and after incubation with pleurotus ostreatus. J Agric Food Chem 57(23):11254–11260

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ayoub S, Al-Absi K, Al-Shdiefat S, Al-Majali D, Hijazean D (2014) Effect of olive mill wastewater land-spreading on soil properties, olive tree performance and oil quality. Sci Hortic 175:160–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Gal A, Borochov-Neori H, Yermiyahu U, Shani U (2009) Is osmotic potential a more appropriate property than electrical conductivity for evaluating whole-plant response to salinity Environ Exp Bot 65(2–3):232–237

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bliss RD, Platt-Aloia KA, Thomson WW (1986) Osmotic sensitivity in relation to salt sensitivity in germinating barley seeds. Plant Cell Environ 9(9):721–725

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bottino A, Capannelli G, Comite A, Ferrari F, Jezowska A, Firpo R (2015) Treatment of olive mill wastewater through integrated pressure driven membrane processes

  • Casa R, D’Annibale A, Pieruccetti F, Stazi S, Sermanni GG, Cascio BL (2003) Reduction of the phenolic components in olive-mill wastewater by an enzymatic treatment and its impact on durum wheat (triticum durum desf.) germinability. Chemosphere 50(8):959–966

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis R, Roberts E (1980) Towards a Rational Basis for Testing Seed Quality. Butterworths, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Eusébio A, Mateus M, Baeta-Hall L, Sàágua MC, Tenreiro R, Almeida-Vara E, Duarte JC (2007) Characterization of the microbial communities in jet-loop (jacto) reactors during aerobic olive oil wastewater treatment. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 59(3):226–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fricke W, Akhiyarova G, Wei W, Alexandersson E, Miller A, Kjellbom P O, Richardson A, Wojciechowski T, Schreiber L, Veselov D, Kudoyarova G, Volkov V (2006) The short-term growth response to salt of the developing barley leaf. J Exp Bot 57(5):1079–1095

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • González M, Moreno E, Quevedo-Sarmiento J, Ramos-Cormenzana A (1990) Studies on antibacterial activity of waste waters from olive oil mills (alpechin): inhibitory activity of phenolic and fatty acids. Chemosphere 20(3–4):423–432

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hampson CR, Simpson GM (1990) Effects of temperature, salt, and osmotic potential on early growth of wheat (triticum aestivum). i. germination. Can J Bot 68(3):524–528

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanifi S, Hadrami I (2008) Phytotoxicity and fertilising potential of olive mill wastewaters for maize cultivation. Agron Sustain Dev 28(2):313–319

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang J, Redmann R E (1995) Salt tolerance of hordeum and brassica species during germination and early seedling growth. Can J Plant Sci 75(4):815–819

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan M, Gul B, Weber D (2002) Seed germination in relation to salinity and temperature in sarcobatus vermiculatus. Biol Plant 45(1):133–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khodarahmpour Z (2011) Screening maize (zea mays l.) hybrids for salt stress tolerance at germination stage. Afr J Biotechnol 10(71):15959–15965

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Komilis DP, Karatzas E, Halvadakis CP (2005) The effect of olive mill wastewater on seed germination after various pretreatment techniques. Aust J Environ Manag 74(4):339–348

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kopittke PM, Blamey FPC, Asher CJ, Menzies NW (2010) Trace metal phytotoxicity in solution culture: a review. J Exp Bot 61(4):945–954

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krmz S, Bell RW (2012) Responses of barley to hypoxia and salinity during seed germination, nutrient uptake, and early plant growth in solution culture. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 175(4):630–640

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lanciotti R, Gianotti A, Baldi D, Angrisani R, Suzzi G, Mastrocola D, Guerzoni M (2005) Use of yarrowia lipolytica strains for the treatment of olive mill wastewater. Bioresour Technol 96(3):317–322

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laor Y, Saadi I, Raviv M, Medina S, Erez-Reifen D, Eizenberg H (2011) Land spreading of olive mill wastewater in israel: current knowledge, practical experience, and future research needs. Israel J Plant Sci 59:39–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mekki A, Dhouib A, Sayadi S (2007) Polyphenols dynamics and phytotoxicity in a soil amended by olive mill wastewaters. J Environ Manag 84(2):134–140

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mekki A, Dhouib A, Sayadi S (2013) Effects of olive mill wastewater application on soil properties and plants growth. Int J Recycl Org Waste Agric 2(1):1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mensuh J, Akomeah P, Ikhajiagbe B, Ekpekurede O (2006) Effects of salinity on germination, growth and yield of five groundnut genotypes. Afr J Biotechnol 5(20):1973–1979

    Google Scholar 

  • Michael I, Panagi A, Ioannou LA, Frontistis Z, Fatta-Kassinos D (2014) Utilizing solar energy for the purification of olive mill wastewater using a pilot-scale photocatalytic reactor after coagulation-flocculation. Water Res 60:28–40

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Motamedi M, Khodarahmpour Z, Ahakpaz F (2013) Influence of salicylic acid pretreatment on germination and seedling growth of wheat (triticum aestivum l.) cultivars under salt stress. Int J Biosci 3(8):226–233

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murillo-Amador B, López-Aguilar R, Kaya C, Larrinaga-Mayoral J, Flores-Hernández A (2002) Comparative effects of nacl and polyethylene glycol on germination, emergence and seedling growth of cowpea. J Agron Crop Sci 188(4):235–247

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muscolo A, Sidari M, Mallamaci C, Attina E (2010) Effects of olive mill wastewater on seed germination and seedling growth. Terr Aquat Environ Toxicol 4(1):75–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Naseri R, Emami T, Mirzaei A, Soleymanifard A (2012) Effect of salinity (sodium chloride) on germination and seedling growth of barley(hordeum vulgare l.) cultivars. Int J Agric Crop Sci 4(13):911–917

    Google Scholar 

  • Okçu G, Kaya M, Atak M (2005) Effects of salt and drought stresses on germination and seedling growth of pea (pisum sativum l.) Turk J Agric For 29:237–242

    Google Scholar 

  • Orchard T (1977) Estimating the parameters of plant seedling emergence. Seed Sci Technol 5(1):61–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Ouzounidou G, Asfi M (2012) Determination of olive mill wastewater toxic effects on three mint species grown in hydroponic culture. J Plant Nutr 35(5):726–738

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patade V, Maya K, Zakwan A (2011) Seed priming mediated germination improvement and tolerance to subsequent exposure to cold and salt stress in capsicum. Res J Seed Sci 4(3):125–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piotrowska A, Rao MA, Scotti R, Gianfreda L (2011) Changes in soil chemical and biochemical properties following amendment with crude and dephenolized olive mill waste water (omw). Geoderma 161(1–2):8–17

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saadi I, Laor Y, Raviv M, Medina S (2007) Land spreading of olive mill wastewater: effects on soil microbial activity and potential phytotoxicity. Chemosphere 66(1):75–83

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saadi I, Raviv M, Berkovich S, Hanan A, Aviani I, Laor Y (2013) Fate of soil-applied olive mill wastewater and potential phytotoxicity assessed by two bioassay methods. J Environ Qual 42(6):1791–1801

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sabir P, Ashraf M (2005) Screening of local accessions of panicum miliaceum l for salt tolerance at the seedling stage using biomass production and ion accumulation as selection criteria. Pak J Bot 39(5):1655–1661

    Google Scholar 

  • Sayadi S, Allouche N, Jaoua M, Aloui F (2000) Detrimental effects of high molecular-mass polyphenols on olive mill wastewater biotreatment. Process Biochem 35(7):725–735

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh H (2006) Fungal Degradation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Dioxins. John Wiley & Sons,Inc., pp 149–180

  • Tabatabaei SA (2013) Changes in proline, protein, catalase and germination characteristics of barley seeds under salinity stress. Int Res J Appl Basic Sci 5(10):1266–1271

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ur Rahman M, Soomro UA, ul Haq MZ, Gul S (2008) Effects of nacl salinity on wheat (triticum aestivum l.) cultivars. World J Agric Sci 4(3):398–403

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang YR, Yu L, Nan ZB, Liu YL (2004) Vigor tests used to rank seed lot quality and predict field emergence in four forage species. Crop Sci 44(2):535–541.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiesman Z, Linder C, Niemark G, Abramovitz J, Waisman M, Gilron J (2013) Treating olive mill wastewater for recovery of valuable byproducts. Tech. rep., Medolico-ENPI

  • Wilkinson L (1990) The System for Statistics: SYSTAT, Inc. Evanston, IL

  • Yousofinia M, Ghassemian A, Sofalian O, Khomari S (2012) Effects of salinity stress on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) germination and seedling growth. Int J Agric Crop Sci 4(18):1353–1357

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang H, Irving LJ, McGill C, Matthew C, Zhou D, Kemp P (2010) The effects of salinity and osmotic stress on barley germination rate: sodium asan osmotic regulator. Ann Bot 106(6):1027–1035

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was prepared in the framework of the project “Mediterranean Cooperation in the Treatment and Valorisation of Olive Mill Wastewater (MEDOLICO)” which is funded by the European Union under the ENPI Cross-Border Cooperation Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme. MEDOLICO total budget is 1.9 million Euro and it is co-financed through the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (90 %) and national funds of the countries participating in the project (10 %). The authors acknowledge also all the partners participating in MEDOLICO project for providing us with the treated OMW using different technologies.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan

    Munir J. M. Rusan, Ammar A. Albalasmeh, Said Zuraiqi & Mohammad Bashabsheh

Authors
  1. Munir J. M. Rusan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ammar A. Albalasmeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Said Zuraiqi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mohammad Bashabsheh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Munir J. M. Rusan.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rusan, M.J.M., Albalasmeh, A.A., Zuraiqi, S. et al. Evaluation of phytotoxicity effect of olive mill wastewater treated by different technologies on seed germination of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 9127–9135 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-4004-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-4004-3

Keywords

  • Phytotoxicity
  • Olive mill wastewater
  • Germination
  • Barley
  • Germination indices
  • Reverse osmosis