AGRICULTURAL REUSE OF OLIVE MILL EFFLUENTS AFTER ENERGY RECOVERY

Aim of this research, within the UE BIOTROLL Project, was the physical and chemical characteriza-tion of the olive pulp (OP) and of the effluents arising from the biological treatment for the production of hydrogen (EH2) and methane (ECH4) and the agricultural reuse of these products for soil fertilization. Preliminary results showed that they contain respectively 28.4%, 7.8 % and 4.6 % of dry matter; around 60 % of organic carbon; appreciable amount of macro- (especially organic N and K2O) and micronutrients and negligible amount of heavy metals. pH and electrical conductivity are in a normal range. Their addi-tion to a sandy soil showed different intensity of mineralization processes, any phytotoxicity phenomenon and a significant bio-stimulant effect on wheat seed germination