Effects of Olive Mill Wastewater on Soil Microarthropods and Soil Chemistry in Two Different Cultivation Scenarios in Israel and Palestinian Territories

Markus Peter Kurtz, Benjamin Peikert, Carsten Brühl, Arnon Dag, Isaac Zipori, Jawad Hasan Shoqeir and Gabriele Ellen Schaumann
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Markus Peter Kurtz: Group of Environmental and Soil Chemistry, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, Landau 76829, Germany
Benjamin Peikert: Group of Environmental and Soil Chemistry, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, Landau 76829, Germany
Carsten Brühl: Group of Ecotoxicology and Environment, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, Landau 76829, Germany
Arnon Dag: Agricultural Research Organization, Gilat Research Center, Gilat 85280, Israel
Isaac Zipori: Agricultural Research Organization, Gilat Research Center, Gilat 85280, Israel
Jawad Hasan Shoqeir: Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Al-Quds University, Abu-Dis, P.O. Box 20002, Jerusalem, Palestine
Gabriele Ellen Schaumann: Group of Environmental and Soil Chemistry, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, Landau 76829, Germany

Agriculture, 2015, vol. 5, issue 3, 1-22

Abstract: Although olive mill wastewater (OMW) is often applied onto soil and is known to be phytotoxic, its impact on soil fauna is still unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate how OMW spreading in olive orchards affects Oribatida and Collembola communities, physicochemical soil properties and their interdependency. For this, we treated plots in two study sites (Gilat, Bait Reema) with OMW. Among others, the sites differed in irrigation practice, soil type and climate. We observed that soil acidity and water repellency developed to a lower extent in Gilat than in Bait Reema. This may be explained by irrigation-induced dilution and leaching of OMW compounds in Gilat. In Bait Reema, OMW application suppressed emergence of Oribatida and induced a community shift, but the abundance of Collembola increased in OMW and water-treated plots. In Gilat, Oribatida abundance increased after OMW application. The effects of OMW application on soil biota result from an interaction between stimulation of biological activity and suppression of sensitive species by toxic compounds. Environmental and management conditions are relevant for the degree and persistence of the effects. Moreover, this study underlines the need for detailed research on the ecotoxicological effects of OMW at different application rates.

Keywords: olive mill waste water; hydrophobicity; Oribatida; Collembola; field study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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