Agricultural Valorisation of Treated Olive Mill Wastewater for the Cultivation of Solanum Melongena (eggplant) in Two Different Soil Environments
摘要
The objective of this research is to investigate the potential of raw and diluted olive mill wastewater (OMWW), sourced from olive oil production facilities in the Loukkos region. OMWW has been subjected to rigorous testing at various concentrations (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) and applied to vegetable crops using two distinct application methods (Procedures I and II). The procedure I entailed aerated lagooning/adsorption with activated carbon, followed by electric agitation. In contrast, Procedure II employed a combination of activated carbon and lime, also followed by electric agitation. A subsequent toxicological assessment conducted on eggplant (Solanum melongena) plants cultivated in two distinct soil types: one from Gharb-Sidi Yahia and the other from Loukkos-Ksar El Kebir. The assessment revealed the beneficial effects of OMWW treated with the proposed methods on plant growth and fruit yield across different soil environments. Research has demonstrated that processed OMWW (E6) contains essential nutrients for fertilization, including nitrogen (772 mg/L), potassium (1200 mg/L), and phosphorus (114 mg/L). The results of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of prototype II in mitigating copper (Cu) uptake and enhancing plant yield. Compared to the control treatments, prototype II reduced copper bioaccumulation in plant tissues by 45% and increased crop yield by 60%. These findings highlight the potential of this prototype to improve phytoremediation outcomes and agricultural productivity. In contrast, the use of undiluted OMWW causes plant mortality, while both diluted and concentrated forms at concentrations above 50% lead to plant asphyxiation and leaf degradation. The study further reveals that both treated and diluted OMWW effectively reduce the bio-accumulation of metallic elements (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Pb) in various plant organs.