Olive solid waste (OSW) is a toxic by-product of olive oil production. Disposal of OSW is a major problem
in many Mediterranean countries leading to increased interest in its potential as an organic fertiliser.
Relatively little is known regarding the impact of augmentation with OSW and olive solid waste compost
(OSWC) on soil hydraulic properties. The effect of OSW and OSWC on the hydraulic characteristics of
common agricultural soils with high sand but very different silt and clay contents was analysed.
Increased organic inputs induced reductions in soil bulk density and increases in air capacity, hydraulic
conductivity and the water content available for plant growth (AWC) in the Sandy Clay Loam (SCL) soil.
Similar patterns were observed in Loamy Sand (LS) soil augmented with OSW, but OSWC caused reductions
in hydraulic conductivity, air capacity and AWC. Nonetheless, over longer timescales OSWC may
benefit the hydraulic properties of loamy sand soils as the compost becomes fully incorporated within
the soil structure. Augmentation with organic olive waste induced the hydraulic parameters of the sandy
clay loam soil to become identical to those loamy sand (LS) with a higher available water capacity;
suggesting that soil augmentation with OSW and OSWC may be an effective tool in remediating and
improving degraded or organic poor soils. In terms of the improvement of hydraulic parameters,
application rates of 6e8% OSW/OSWC were most beneficial for both soil types