Study on the effect of applying different levels of olive pomace (Olea europaea L.) on the grain yield of three rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars in climatic conditions of Khuzestan

This study was performed to investigate the effect of applying olive (Olea europaea L.) pomace on some physiological characteristics and grain yield of three cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa L.). A pot experiment was used based on a completely randomized factorial design with three replications. Five levels of olive fruit pomace (0, 1, 3, 5, and 7% w/w) were applied to three rice cultivars of Champa, Danial, and Red Anbouri. After full growth and maturity of rice, grain soluble carbohydrate content, shoot proline content, mean panicle weight, main grain number per panicle, 1000 grain weight, panicle harvest index, grain yield, 1000-grain, and the biomass were measured. Also, the amount of K, P, N, and Zn in the different treatments of olive fruit pomace was measured. The results showed that application of olive pomace caused a significant increase in the characteristics under investigation compared to control. Under study treatments, growth indices improved at 5% w/w. The possible reason for this could be the existence of elements effective on plant growth in pomace treatments.