Evaluating the Pollution Risk of Soil Due to Natural Drainage of Orange Peel: First Results

Orange peel (OP), the main residue of citrus industry, is usually used for animal feeding and soil fertilisation if more advanced options are lacking. In areas with warm dry climatic conditions, OP land-spread solar-drying on fields, leachate produced a potential pollution factor especially due to release organic matter; heavy rainfalls could even aggravate hazard. Since literature does not report any quantitative evaluation this risk, study presents three drainage tests in lysimeters, where was left releasing layer. A first test carried out raw naturally draining, while, second third test, rainfall 100 mm applied already drained solar-dried OP, respectively. After drainage, reduced its initial volume by about 90% production accounted only 20% volume. The simulated lower volumes (2–3% biomass volume), spite high long time after application. COD concentration from significantly higher than those rainfall. However, amount released negligible. lysimetric showed that occurs mainly during phase absorbed produce significant leaching. Overall, risk natural negligible, both limited amounts loading.