Effect of saline treated wastewater and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on soil properties and growth of potted young olive plants

The reuse of treated wastewater (TWW) in olive orchardsmay affect the soil quality and the growth of plantsunder long term irrigation. This investigation aims to study the impact of different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal(AMF) inoculums(Glomus deserticola, Gigaspora margarita or a 1:1 mixture of Glomus deserticolaand Gigaspora margarita)in improvingthe soil quality and the growth of potted young olive plants (Olea europaea L. cv. Chetoui)after one year of irrigation with saline TWW. Results showed that irrigation with this water caused an increase in electrical conductivity (EC) and an accumulation of Na+ and Cl− in the soil solution. As a result, young olive plants showed a reduction in shoots elongation and leaf areas, whereas the leaf thickness was increased. Mycorrhizal symbiosis played an important role in decreasing the EC and the concentration of Na+ and Cl−in soil irrigated with TWW. In addition, AMF inoculation mitigated the salt stress caused by saline TWW and improved all the growth parameters.