Potential applications of olive mill wastewater as biopesticide for crops protection

Olive mill waste water (OMW) is a major environmental problem because of its high organic load, its phytotoxicity and antimicrobial properties. Many studies recognized that these wastes have a high fertilizer value when applied to the soil because of the high organic matter content and some mineral nutrient content. In addition, soil amendment with OMW is also known for its antimicrobial activity and suppressive effects against plant pathogens. In this paper, the potential use of olive mill wastewater as biopesticides against plant pathogens is discussed. The effects of OMW application on soil and crops are also reported. The OMW can be used to suppress the growth of the main bacterial, fungal phytopathogens and weed species without any negative effects on crop growth. Nevertheless, some measures should be respected when using OMW as biopesticide especially in regards of dose and timing of use. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.