engleski

Potential of olive pomace as soil amendment

Olive oil production is a very significant economic activity, especially in the Mediterranean part of Croatia. However, except the economic aspect, olive oil production can significantly affect the environment. One of the byproducts of olive oil production is olive pomace, whose quantities are becoming a significant problem and it is necessary to find an adequate solution for olive pomace disposal. One of the possible solutions is the valorization of olive pomace in the form of soil amendment. The aim of the present research was to determine the variability in chemical composition of olive pomaces from different olive mills across Croatia. In the collected samples, macro and microelements, dry weight and oil percentage were analyzed. In the analyzed samples, a significant variability was established as follows:N (0, 59-1, 38%), C (55, 27-59, 72%), P (3, 72-17, 89 g/kg), K (3, 1-20 g/kg), Ca (0, 9-1, 5 g/kg), Fe (7, 4-274 g/kg), Mg (131-637 mg/kg), Mn (3, 2-11 mg/kg), Zn (4, 1-10 mg/kg). Dry weight percentage varied from 19, 29 to 82, 97%, while oil percentage from4, 53 to 18, 41%. Determined macro and microelements contents confirmed the potential of olive pomace as a valuable soil amendment, which would allow to return the nutrients from the olives into the soil. However, it is necessary to develop a pomace processing technology that will degrade the residual oils so that soil fertility will not be affected.

biomass ; fertilizer ; macroelements ; microelements ; olive oil

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