Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Nitrogen mineralization in soils amended with composted olive mill sludge

  • Published:
Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The disposal of olive mill wastewater (OMW) is a critical pollution problem, especially in Mediterranean countries. OMW is produced at a rate of ca. 2 1 kg-1 of olives. OMW has a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of 35–48 g kg-1. The evaporation of OMW in ponds produces large amounts of sludge (OMWS), which after being dried can be used as organic fertilizer or amendment, either directly or co-composted with agricultural by-products. The present paper deals with the use of a compost of dried sludge of OMW and other agricultural by-products – olive mill wastewater sludge compost (OMWSC) – to amend for three consecutive years two typical soils of southern Spain: a Typic Xeropsamment, S1 (CaCO3 86 g kg-1; OM 1.4 g kg-1; sandy soil) and a Typic Xerorthent, S2 (CaCO3 270 g kg-1; OM 5.3 g kg-1; sandy–clay–loam soil). Both soils are poor in organic matter, in total Kjeldahl-N (TKN 347 and 536 mg kg-1) and in available-P (Olsen P 3.0 and 2.5 mg kg-1). Mineralization of the organic-N of the OMWSC (OM 106–338 g kg-1; TKN 7–15 g kg-1; C/N 12.3–18.9) and of soils treated with OMWSC was studied under laboratory conditions by an aerobic, non-leaching incubation procedure. In both cases, the N-mineralization process was well described by first-order-reaction kinetics, and the potentially mineralizable-N (N0) and the N-mineralization rate constant (k) estimated from a single first-order equation. Values for N0 (equivalent to 16% of the N of the compost) and k (0.041 week-1) indicated that the OMWSC was a mature compost composed mainly of well-humified organic matter, very resistant to mineralization. Soils treated with OMWSC showed increases of the OM, TKN and N0 contents and of the potential rate of mineralization (N0 x k), with respect to untreated or mineral fertilized soils. The increases of TKN in soils treated with OMWSC were even higher than expected by the N added together with compost, and attributed to non-symbiotic N fixation. Values of OM, TKN, N0 and N0 x k, were higher in S2 than in S1, which can be explained based on the soil properties related to fertility, especially soil texture.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. J. Alba Mendoza (1994) Nuevas tecnologías para la obtención de aceite de oliva Olivicultura Fundación La Caixa y Agro Latino BarcelonaSpain 85–95

    Google Scholar 

  2. AMA 1994. Sistemas de Obtención de Aceite de Oliva sin Producción de Alpechín: Situación Actual. Informe n° 1/94. Dpto. de Investigación, Consejería de Cultura y Medio AmbienteJunta de AndalucíaSevillaSpain.

  3. W.L. Banwart M.A. Tabatabai J.M. Bremner (1972) ArticleTitleDetermination of ammonium in soils extracts and water samples by an ammonia electrode Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 3 449–458 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE3sXkt1Smsg%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. C. Benítez M. Tejada J.L. González (2003) ArticleTitleKinetics of mineralization of nitrogen in a pig slurry compost applied to soils Compost. Sci. Util. 11 72–80

    Google Scholar 

  5. P. Burgos F. Cabrera E. Madejón (2002) Changes soil organic matter enzymatic activities and heavy metal availability induced by application of organic residues A. Violante P.M. Huang J.M. Bollag L. Gianfreda (Eds) Soil Mineral–Organic Matter–Microorganism Interactions and Ecosystem Health. Ecological Significance of the Interaction among Clay Minerals Organic Matter and Soil Biota. Developments in Soil ScienceVol. 28B Elsevier Science AmsterdamThe Netherlands 353–362

    Google Scholar 

  6. F. Cabrera R. López J.M. Murillo M.A. Breñas (1993) Olive vegetation water residues composted with other agricultural by-products as organic fertilizer E. Welte I. Szabolcs (Eds) Efficient Fertilization, Manuring and Irrigation for Improving Crop YieldFood Quality and Renewable Resources CIEC BudapestHungary 490–498

    Google Scholar 

  7. F. Cabrera R. López A. Martínez-Bordiú E. de Lome J.M. Murillo (1996) ArticleTitleLand treatment of olive oil mill wastewater Int. Biodeter. Biodegr. 38 215–225 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0964-8305(96)00054-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. F. Cabrera Capitán (1995) El alpechín: un problema mediterráneo M. Alvarez Cobelas F. Cabrera Capitán (Eds) La Calidad de las Aguas Continentales Españolas. Estado Actual e Investigación CSIC. Geoforma Ediciones LogroñoSpain 141–154

    Google Scholar 

  9. F. Costa C. García T. Hernández A. Polo (1991) Residuos Orgánicos Urbanos Manejo y Utilizacion. Caja Murcia MurciaSpain

    Google Scholar 

  10. J.E. Davies W.G. Hoody J.D. Thomas (1972) ArticleTitleNitrate ion-selective electrodes based on poly(vinyl chloride) matrix membranes The Analyst 97 87–104 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE38Xhs1WrsL0%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. D. De la Rosa C. Baños J.L. Mudarra E. Barahona J.M. Moreira J.M. Puertas A. Ramos (1984) Catálogo de Suelos de Andalucía Monografías de Medio Ambiente n° 3, Junta de Andalucía AMA SevillaSpain

    Google Scholar 

  12. B.F. Douglas F.R. Magdoff (1991) ArticleTitleAn evaluation of nitrogen mineralization indices for organic residues J. Environ. Qual. 20 368–372

    Google Scholar 

  13. J.A. Fiestas Ros De Ursinos R. Borja Padilla (1992) ArticleTitleUse and treatment of olive mill wastewater: current situation and prospects in Spain Grasas y Aceites 43 101–106

    Google Scholar 

  14. F. Fluori I. Chatjipavlidis C. Balis D. Servis C. Tjerakis (1990) Effect of Olive Oil Mill Liquid Waste on Soil Fertility Reunión Internacional sobre Tratamiento de Alpechines CórdobaSpain

    Google Scholar 

  15. A. García-Barrionuevo E. Moreno J. Quevedo-Sarmiento J. González-López A. Ramos-Cormenzana (1992) ArticleTitleEffect of wastewaters from olive oil mills (alpechín) on Azotobacter nitrogen fixation in soil Soil Biol. Biochem. 24 281–283 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0038-0717(92)90232-M

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. G.F. Griffin A.F. Laine (1983) ArticleTitleNitrogen mineralization in soils previously amended with organic wastes Agron. J. 75 124–128

    Google Scholar 

  17. M. Hérbert A. Karam L.E. Parent (1991) ArticleTitleMineralization of nitrogen and carbon in soils amended with composted manure Biol. Agric. Hortic. 7 357–364

    Google Scholar 

  18. M. Hermoso J. González M. Uceda A. García-Ortiz J. Morales L. Frías A. Fernández (1994) Elaboración de Aceites de Oliva de Calidad. Obtención por el Sistema de Dos Fases Consejería de Agricultura y PescaServicio de Publicaciones y Divulgación, Junta de Andalucía SevillaSpain

    Google Scholar 

  19. T. Hernández R. Moral A. Pérez-Espinosa J. Moreno-Caselles M.D. Pérez Murcia C. García (2002) ArticleTitleNitrogen mineralization potential in calcareous soils amended with sewage sludge Bioresource Technol. 83 2132–219

    Google Scholar 

  20. P.R. Hesse (1971) A Textbook of Soil Chemical Analysis Murray London, UK

    Google Scholar 

  21. Infolivo 2002. Producción mundial del sector. http://www.infolivo.com.

  22. C.A. Jones (1984) ArticleTitleEstimation of an active fraction of soil nitrogen Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 15 23–32 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2cXhtlOqtL0%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. D.R. Keeney J.M. Bremner (1967) ArticleTitleDetermination and isotope-ratio analysis of different forms of nitrogen in soils. 6: Mineralizable nitrogen Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc. 31 34–39 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaF2sXktVans70%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. López R., Cabrera F., Murillo J.M., Fernández M. and Sánchez M.C. 1994. El compost de alpechín como fertilizante orgánico: efectos sobre ryegrass (cv. Balwoltra) en un ensayo de invernadero. Proc. IX Congreso Nacional de QuímicaSevillaSpain, pp. 181–188.

  25. E. Madejón P. Burgos R. López F. Cabrera (2003) ArticleTitleAgricultural use of three organic residues: effect on orange production and on properties of a soil of the Comarca “Costa de Huelva” (SW Spain) Nutr. Cycl. Agroecosyst. 65 281–288 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1022608828694

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. E. Madejón P. Burgos J.M. Murillo F. Cabrera (2001a) ArticleTitlePhytotoxicity of organic amendments on activities of selected soil enzymes Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 32 2227–2239 Occurrence Handle10.1081/CSS-120000279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. E. Madejón R. López J.M. Murillo F. Cabrera (2001b) ArticleTitleAgricultural use of three (sugarbeet) vinasse composts: effect on crops and chemical properties of a Cambisol soil in the Guadalquivir river valley (SW Spain) Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 84 55–65 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0167-8809(00)00191-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. P. Martín-Olmedo F. Cabrera R. López J.M. Murillo (1995) ArticleTitleResidual effect of composted olive oil mill sludge on plant growth Fresenius Environ. Bull. 4 221–226

    Google Scholar 

  29. F. Madrid R. López J.M. Murillo F. Cabrera (2001) ArticleTitleNitrogen mineralisation for assessing the correct agricultural use of MSW compost Bioproc. Solid Waste Sludge 1 IssueID2 6

    Google Scholar 

  30. J. Montaño J.D. Segura (1986) Compost production using vegetation water and other agricultural by-products International Symposium on Olive By-Product Valorization FAO CórdobaSpain 359–361

    Google Scholar 

  31. A.W. Moore (1966) ArticleTitleNon-symbiotic nitrogen fixation in soil and soil–plant system Soils Fert. 29 113–128

    Google Scholar 

  32. J.M. Murillo F. Cabrera R. López P. Martín-Olmedo (1995) ArticleTitleTesting low-quality compost for agriculture: germination and seedling performance of plants Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 54 127–135 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0167-8809(94)00576-Z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. R. Nira A. Nishimune (1993) ArticleTitleStudies on mineralization properties of Tokachi soils by kinetic analysis Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 39 321–329 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXhs1amt7g%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. C.R. Parker L.E. Sommer (1983) ArticleTitleMineralization of nitrogen in sewage sludge J. Environ. Qual. 12 150–156

    Google Scholar 

  35. J. Rodrigo Román (1990) Situación en España Reunión Internacional sobre Tratamiento de Alpechines CórdobaSpain

    Google Scholar 

  36. M.D. Serna F. Pomares (1992) ArticleTitleNitrogen mineralization of sludge-amended soil Bioresource Technol. 39 285–290 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0960-8524(92)90218-M Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK38XhsFSltL4%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. SigmaStat 1992. Statistical Software. Jandel Scientific

  38. R.R. Simard A. N’dayegamiye (1993) ArticleTitleNitrogen-mineralization of meadow soils Can. J. Soil Sci. 73 27–38

    Google Scholar 

  39. J.L. Smith R.R. Schnabel B.L. McNeal G.S. Campbell (1980) ArticleTitlePotential errors in the first-order model for estimating soil nitrogen mineralization potentials Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 44 996–1000 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL3MXhsVCmtg%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. InstitutionalAuthorNameSoil Survey Staff (1990) Keys of Soil Taxonomy. Technical Monograph 19 SMSS Blackburg, VAUSA

    Google Scholar 

  41. G. Stanford S.J. Smith (1972) ArticleTitleNitrogen mineralization potentials of soils Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc. 36 465–472 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE38XktlegtLw%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. G. Zafra Marín M. Montero Tirado (1986) Production of dried sludge from vegetation water and its use as a fertilizer and fuel source Proceedings of the International Symposium on Olive By-Product Valorization FAO CórdobaSpain 355–357

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Apartado 1052, E-41080, Sevilla, Spain

    Francisco Cabrera, Piedad Martín-Olmedo, Rafael López & José Manuel Murillo

Authors
  1. Francisco Cabrera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Piedad Martín-Olmedo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rafael López
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. José Manuel Murillo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francisco Cabrera.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cabrera, F., Martín-Olmedo, P., López, R. et al. Nitrogen mineralization in soils amended with composted olive mill sludge. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 71, 249–258 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-004-6373-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-004-6373-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation