Effect of olive mill wastewater (OMW) on growth of tomato and germination of certain vegetable seeds

Muhannad I. Massadeh, Mohammad Abu Deyieh, Kawthar Abu-Tahoon and Abdul Latief A. Al-Ghzawi

Abstract: One of the serious environmental problems that face most Mediterranean countries especially Jordan, is Olive mill wastewate (OMW). Fortunately, scientists were able to conquer this problem by many solutions including OMW biological treatment and re-use in agriculture. This research was conducted to study the effect of OMW on tomato plant cultivation and seed germination of selected cultivars. The experiments were conducted at The Hashemite University which is located in an arid region, with three treatments of OMW including water (control), 50% diluted OMW, and 100% treated (concentrated OMW) in field and in greenhouse. While seed germination experiment was conducted under normal light conditions and 25°C. For tomato plants, the total yield, dry weight of root, aboveground biomass and accumulative number of flower. The results showed significant difference between those treated with 50% diluted OMW and those treated with 100% OMW or control and these differences included all variables measured except for the root dry weight. Concentrated OMW (100%) and 75% diluted OM were highly toxic to the germinating of all seeds studied including chickpea, melon, cucumber, tomato and squash. As for the Microbial community analysis in soil, OMW treatments lead to a significant increase in fungal and bacterial counts throughout irrigation at elevated concentrations of OMW. However, OMW at a 50% concentration can be used in irrigation of crops like tomato plants.

Keywords: microbial community; Olive mill waste water; seed germination; tomato; vegetable crops

Date published: 2022-12-09