The Effect of Varying Olive Mill Wastewater Concentrations on Soil Free-Living Nematode Communities and Lettuce Growth

Panagiotis Kekelis, Cleopatra Pantazi, Snezhana Mourouzidou, Aphrodite Theofilidou, Maria D. Dimou, Vassilis Aschonitis and Nikolaos Monokrousos ()
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Panagiotis Kekelis: University Center of International Programmes of Studies, International Hellenic University, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Cleopatra Pantazi: University Center of International Programmes of Studies, International Hellenic University, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Snezhana Mourouzidou: University Center of International Programmes of Studies, International Hellenic University, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Aphrodite Theofilidou: University Center of International Programmes of Studies, International Hellenic University, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Maria D. Dimou: Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Vassilis Aschonitis: Soil and Water Resources Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization—Dimitra, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Nikolaos Monokrousos: University Center of International Programmes of Studies, International Hellenic University, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: We assessed the impact of increasing olive mill waste (OMW) concentrations (10%, 35%, 70%, and 100% v / v ) on soil free-living nematode communities and Lactuca sativa (lettuce) growth, 10 and 45 days after application (DAA). L. sativa plants showed a survival threshold at OMW10%, with higher concentrations proving fatal. Contrary to expectations, nematode abundance increased with OMW concentration. OMW10% induced a rapid surge in nematode abundance, stabilizing at 45 DAA, resembling control values. OMW35%, OMW70%, and OMW100% plots exhibited persistent, gradual increases, surpassing control values at 45 DAA. All treatments favored fungal feeders, resulting in the overdominance of the genus Aphelenchus both at 10 and 45 DAA. Even though OMW did not exert a toxic effect on nematode populations, this shift in the community structure towards the dominance of a single genus could suggest an imbalance in the soil community, which could have negative implications for soil health and ecosystem functioning. Overall, our study provides insights into the complex interactions between OMW, soil nematode communities, and plant growth, emphasizing the importance of understanding soil ecology for sustainable agricultural management.

Keywords: feeding groups; free-living nematodes; metabolic footprint; nematode indices; organic amendment; soil food web (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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