Transcript GENSCH 2010 Use of Hygienized Urine

Use of Hygienized Urine in
Agriculture
Robert Gensch, Xavier University
Use of Hygienized Urine in Agriculture
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Use of Hygienized Urine in Agriculture
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Contents
1. Concept
2. How it can optimize SSWM
3. Applicability
4. Advantages and disadvantages
5. References
Use of Hygienized Urine in Agriculture
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1. Concept
Background
• Urine is a liquid product of the human body that is secreted by the
kidneys.
• A big share of the soluble substances in the urine consists of essential
plant nutrients like Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium.
• There is almost a mass balance between nutrient consumption and
excretion (What goes in goes out) (JOENSSON 2004)
• The actual nutrient content in urine is therefore dependent on local
diet patterns and varies between countries as well as between
individuals. (JOENSSON 2004)
• Urine from normal, healthy people is virtually free of pathogens. (TILLEY
et al. 2008)
Functional schematic of urine use in
agriculture. Source: TILLEY et al. (2008)
Use of Hygienized Urine in Agriculture
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1. Concept
Background
• On average an adult person produces around 500 liters of urine per
year. (JOENSSON 2004)
• Roughly around 80% of nitrogen, 60% of potassium and 55% of
phosphorus is excreted with urine. (TILLEY et al. 2008)
• Urine can therefore be considered a well-balanced, nitrogen rich liquid
fertilizer. (JOENSSON 2004)
• Separately collected and hygienized urine is a concentrated source of
nutrients that can be applied as a liquid fertilizer in agriculture to
replace all or some commercial chemical fertilizer.
Functional schematic of urine use in
agriculture. Source: TILLEY et al. (2008)
Use of Hygienized Urine in Agriculture
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1. Concept
Treatment and Health Considerations
• Urine can be generally be considered pathogen free, however during
the source separation faecal cross-contamination can occur
• To be considered safe for agricultural application at household level
urine should be stored for a minimum of 1 month (WHO 2006)
• If urine is used for crops that are eaten by those other than the urine
producer, it should be stored for 6 months. (WHO 2006)
• In larger scale urine collection systems it is recommended to store
urine for a minimum of 6 months
• In addition World Heath Organization (WHO) recommends a flexible
Multi-Barrier Approach where several barriers/measures are put in
place in order to reduce the health risk to an acceptable minimum
Use of Hygienized Urine in Agriculture
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1. Concept
Treatment and Health Considerations
Schematic of the WHO Multi-Barrier Approach
Use of Hygienized Urine in Agriculture
Source: R. Gensch
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1. Concept
Application Rate
• Because of the high Nitrogen
content urine should be applied at a
rate corresponding to the Nitrogen
requirements of the plant
• Should follow existing
recommendations for synthetic
fertilizers
• Rule of thumb: 1m2 of cropland can
receive the urine from 1 person per
day (1 to 1.5 litre), per crop
harvested (e.g. 400 m2 of cropland
per year can be fertilized). (TILLEY et al. 2008)
Application of urine with watering can in
Cagayan de Oro, Philippines Source: R. Gensch
Use of Hygienized Urine in Agriculture
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1. Concept
Dilution
• Urine can be applied neat or diluted with
water
• Existing recommendations vary widely
• A common and often recommended
dilution rate is between 1:3 and 1:5
• Advantages of dilution:
o Noticeable odor reduction
o Decreased risk of over-application
o Minimizes risk of toxicity to plants
• Disadvantages
o Increases the volume to be spread,
thus labor and transport inputs
Use of Hygienized Urine in Agriculture
Dilution of urine, Cagayan de Oro,
Philippines Source: R. Gensch
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1. Concept
Application Time
• Good availability of nutrients
particularly important in early stages
of cultivation
• Once the crop enters its reproductive
stage it hardly takes up any more
nutrients
• Fertilization should stop after
between 2/3 and 3/4 of the time
between sowing and harvest
• A waiting period of one month
between fertilization and harvest
should always (!) be observed
Sweet Corn produced with urine from
UDDT, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines
Source: R. Gensch
Use of Hygienized Urine in Agriculture
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1. Concept
Application Technique
• For best fertilizing effect and to avoid ammonia
losses, urine should be incorporated into the
soil as soon as possible
• Shallow incorporation into the soil (either small
furrows that are covered after application or
washing the nutrients into the soil with
subsequent application of water)
• Urine should not be applied on leaves or other
parts of the plants (foliar burning)
• Spraying urine in the air should be avoided
• Urine should be applied either prior to
sowing/planting or at such a distance from the
plants (about 10 cm) that the nutrients are
within reach of the roots
Urine application close to the ground
and with distance to the plant roots,
Cagayan de Oro, Philippines Source: R.
Gensch
Use of Hygienized Urine in Agriculture
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1. Concept
Examples
Farmer in Burkina Faso with onions
that are fertilized with urine (left)
and without urine (right) Source: L. Dagerskog
Use of Hygienized Urine in Agriculture
Young maize plants fertilized with different levels of urine
P.
Morgan
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1. Concept
Examples
Maize combs fertilized with different levels of urine,
Zimbabwe Source: P. Morgan
Use of Hygienized Urine in Agriculture
Spinach and cabbage after 2 months
treatment with diluted urine (left)
compared to water application only
(right), Zimbabwe P. Morgan
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2. How can it optimize SSWM
The use of hygienized urine in agriculture can help in optimizing your
local water management and sanitation system and make it more
sustainable by:
• Making productive use of the nutrient and fertilizer value in human
urine
• Producing vegetables at a household level and increasing household
food security
• Reducing the dependence on costly synthetic fertilisers
• Avoiding the direct discharge into the environment and thus
preventing eutrophication of water sources, health hazards etc.
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3. Applicability
• The most important aspect is that there must be a need for nutrients
otherwise the urine can become a source of pollution and nuisance if
dealt with improperly
• Urine can be applied on small and larger fields, beds, vertical or
container gardens, school gardens, plant pots on terraces, rooftops
etc.
• Urine is especially beneficial on poor soils and for crops that are
lacking nitrogen.
• Urine application is ideal for rural and peri-urban areas where
agricultural lands are close to the point of urine collection.
• If facilities and infrastructure exist, urine can also be collected at a
semi-centralized location for distribution and transport to
agricultural land. (TILLEY et al. 2008)
Use of Hygienized Urine in Agriculture
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4. Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
• Low cost
•Urine is a relatively heavy
medium (low value/weight) and
difficult to transport
• Low risk of pathogen
transmission
• Reduced dependence on costly
synthetic fertilizers
• Income generation
• Easy to understand techniques
(TILLEY et al. 2008)
•Smell may be offensive
•Application of urine labour
intensive
•Requires space for agricultural
activity
•Requires acceptance by the
users
(TILLEY et al. 2008)
Use of Hygienized Urine in Agriculture
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5. References
JOENSSON, H., RICHERT A., VINNERAS, B., SALOMON, E. (2004): Guidelines on the Use of Urine and Faeces in Crop
Production, Stockholm, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), EcoSanRes Publication Series, Report 2004-2
TILLEY, E., LÜTHI, C., MOREL, A., ZURBRÜGG, C., SCHERTENLEIB, R. (2008): Compendium of Sanitation Systems and
Technologies, Switzerland, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science (EAWAG) & Water Supply and Sanitation
Collaborative Council (WSSCC)
WHO (2006): Guidelines for the Safe Use Wastewater, Excreta and Greywater, Volume 4: Excreta and Greywater Use in
Agriculture, Geneva, World Health Organisation
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