Evidence of soil microbial population acclimatisation to long-term application of winery wastewater

Abstract

The long-term treatment of soil with winery wastewater (WWW) leads to an acclimatised soil microbial population. The acclimatised soil displays greater biological activity when exposed to further irrigation with winery wastewater. In this study, soil which had been acclimatised to winery wastewater for about 30 years was compared to the same soil, which had not received the same water. Furthermore, many medium to large wineries have their own water treatment plants. The ability to reuse winery wastewater, treated or untreated, requires a fundamental understanding of the potential toxicity of the water at different times of the year, coupled with the effects of the water on soils and plants. Two matched sites on the same soils were both treated with WWW (treated and untreated) and the microbial activity in the soils was monitored over two weeks, by measuring CO2 efflux and a range of other soil parameters. It was found that the acclimatised soil displayed greater microbial activity, particularly with the untreated winery wastewater. Soil ammonium levels showed overlapping effects, however, elevated ammonium levels peaking after 6 days were associated with the acclimatised soil.