Effect of olive mill waste water on mineral nutrition and growth phenology of Atriplex halimus

This study aims to evaluate and thoroughly discuss the effect of olive mill waste water (OMWW) on mineral nutrition and phytomass production of Atriplex halimus (A. halimus), and to identify the mechanisms of tolerance. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse. Treatment was induced on vigorous plants aged of 1 year, during 3 months. The treatment applied are 0 (Control), 50 (C1), 100 (C2), and 500 ml/L OMWW (C3). During the test, the measured parameters were mineral nutrition and phytomass production. The results showed that irrigation with OMWW improves the mineral nutrition of A. halimus seedlings. It increased the Cu, Mn, Fe, and K content. The root phytomass is kept stable for the concentrations C1 and C2 slightly reduced for the concentration C3. Whilst, OMWW significantly reduces the shoot phytomass for the different concentrations compared to the controls. At the contrary, the ratio root/shoot phytomass increased for the different concentrations indicating that the allocation of resources is in favor of the roots.