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Effects of long-term olive mill wastewater disposal on the physical properties of an olive orchard soil in an arid Mediterranean region

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Abstract

In Mediterranean areas, high quantities of oil mill wastewater (OMW) are produced annually over a limited period (October to February). Spreading OMW on agricultural fields changes the soil’s biological, chemical, and physical properties. In fact, this operation is also intended for soil amendment. The purpose of this research is to assess the long-term effects of recurrent OMW disposal at different doses (50, 100, and 200 m3 ha−1) on the physical properties of different soil layers in order to evaluate the degradation risk after 5 successive years compared to a control soil. Results showed a significant increase of soil organic matter content and potassium concentrations. However, OMW reduced the hydraulic conductivity, the total porosity, and consequently the infiltration rate notably at the highest dose (200 m3 ha−1). An increase of penetration resistance and thus the soil degradation risk was confirmed. As for the productivity of the olive orchard, the average olive production after 5 successive years of OMW discharge into the field showed a high production with 100 m3 ha−1 and a significant production decrease with the highest OMW volume (200 m3 ha−1).

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful for all the facilities and services of the Olive Tree Institute where this work was carried out. The authors are thankful for the members of the Laboratory of Soil Science in this Institute. Additionally, we are truly grateful to Marcin Switoniak (Nicolaus Copernicus University, Poland) for the WRB soil classification of the studied soils.

Funding

This study was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Environmental Sciences and Sustainable Development (LR18ES32), University of Sfax, IPEIS, BP 172, Sfax, Tunisia

    Imen Ben Mahmoud, Hadda Ben Mbarek, Hafedh Rigane & Khaled Medhioub

  2. Sfax Faculty of Sciences, P.B. 1171, 3000, Sfax, Tunisia

    Imen Ben Mahmoud, Hadda Ben Mbarek, Hafedh Rigane & Mounir Medhioub

  3. Olive Institute of Sfax, P.B. 1171, 3000, Sfax, Tunisia

    Hadda Ben Mbarek & Kamel Gargouri

  4. Preparatory Institute of Engineering Studies of Sfax, 3000, Sfax, Tunisia

    Khaled Medhioub

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  1. Imen Ben Mahmoud
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  2. Hadda Ben Mbarek
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  3. Kamel Gargouri
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Correspondence to Imen Ben Mahmoud.

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Responsible Editor: Amjad Kallel

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Mahmoud, I.B., Mbarek, H.B., Gargouri, K. et al. Effects of long-term olive mill wastewater disposal on the physical properties of an olive orchard soil in an arid Mediterranean region. Arab J Geosci 15, 519 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-09644-9

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