Study of the role of olive pomace (Olea europaea L.) as an organic fertilizer on seedling growth of rice (Oryza sativa)

This study was performed to investigate the effect of olive pomace on some morphophysiological characteristics of three cultivars rice seedlings. Various treatments of olive pomace (1, 3, 5 and 7 percent w/w) was mixed with soil and three different varieties of rice (Champa, Danial and Anboori ghermez)were planted in the prepared soils.
Plant length, fresh weight, leaf area, dry weight of shoot and root , photosynthetic pigments content, soluble carbohydrates and proline were measured in the seedling stage.
The amount of K, P, N, Zn in the different treatments was measured.The results indicated that at 5% w/w treatment parallel to increase in element contents the growth indices also were promoted, wherease a significant reduction was found for these indices at 7% w/w treatment.
The possible reason for this may be the reduction of effective elements in plant growth in the pomace in the under study treatments.