Effects of the agronomic use of olive oil mill wastewater: field experiment.

The aim of this study is to assess the effects of olive oil wastewater application on soils. The work consists of field application of the waste at different rates (30, 180, 360 m(3) ha(-1)). Increasing rates of waste enhance the soil fertility due to P, organic matter and N. However, temporary nitrogen immobilisation, increase in salinity values and in phenolic compounds concentrations, both sorbed and soluble forms, have also been observed. Phenolic compounds have been rapidly biodegraded in soil.