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

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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.

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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.

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  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

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  1. Munir J. M. Rusan
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  2. Ammar A. Albalasmeh
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Correspondence to Munir J. M. Rusan.

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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

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