Management of Olive Mill Waste Employing Vermicomposting Technology

This work illustrates the feasibility of vermicomposting technology to stabilize different type of olive wastes (Olive mill waste of discontinuous system OMW-D, OMW of three phase continuous system OMW-3P and OMW of two phase continuous system OMW-2P) by using Eisenia andrei. After 3month of vermicomposting the mature vermicompost was evaluated on the basis of agrochemical properties. The result exhibited that the vermicompost were characterized by slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.8-8.08), and optimal EC (2.63-4 dS. m-1) and C/N ratios (38.26-12.99) and an increase in total N (6.05-16.23g. kg-1). Furthermore the vermicompost content a considerable range of plant available forms phosphorus (5.23 g. kg-1), potassium (22.19 g. kg-1), calcium (18.44 g. kg-1) and sodium (2.67 g. kg-1). The polyphenol content decreased strongly between 82.49 % and 97.98 %. The phytotoxicity screening GI (~50 %) clearly suggested the suitability of vermicomposted olive mill waste mixtures for agronomic purpose