Muhannad I. Massadeh1, Mohammad Abu Deyieh1,2, Kawthar Abu-Tahoon1 and Abdul Latief A. Al-Ghzawi1
1 The Hashemite University, Dept. of Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, P.O. Box 150459, Zarqa 13115, Jordan
2 Qatar University, Dept. of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Art and Science, P.O. Box 2713 Doha-Qatar
Massadeh, M., Deyieh, M. A., Abu-Tahoon, K. & Al-Ghzawi A. L. A. (2022). Effect of olive mill wastewater (OMW) on growth of tomato and germination of certain vegetable seeds. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 28 (6), 1040–1045
One of the serious environmental problems that face most Mediterranean countries especially Jordan, is Olive mill wastewater (OMW). Fortunately, scientists were able to conquer this problem by many solutions including OMW biological treatment and re-use in agriculture. This research was conducted to study the effect of OMW on tomato plant cultivation and seed germination of selected cultivars. The experiments were conducted at The Hashemite University which is located in an arid region, with three treatments of OMW including water (control), 50% diluted OMW, and 100% treated (concentrated OMW) in field and in greenhouse. While seed germination experiment was conducted under normal light conditions and 25°C. For tomato plants, the total yield, dry weight of root, aboveground biomass and accumulative number of flower. The results showed significant difference between those treated with 50% diluted OMW and those treated with 100% OMW or control and these differences included all variables measured except for the root dry weight. Concentrated OMW (100%) and 75% diluted OMW were highly toxic to the germinating of all seeds studied including chickpea, melon, cucumber, tomato and squash. As for the Microbial community analysis in soil, OMW treatments lead to a significant increase in fungal and bacterial counts throughout irrigation at elevated concentrations of OMW. However, OMW at a 50% concentration can be used in irrigation of crops like tomato plants.