Beets Fertilized with Urine Grew 27 Percent Larger

Farmers looking for a natural way to fertilize their crops may need to look no further than human urine, which is naturally rich in nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus – the same ingredients in conventional fertilizers.

Although the use of urine as fertilizer is rare (though not unheard of) today, it has actually been used as fertilizer since ancient times, and new research suggests it may be wise to bring this ancient tradition back.

Beets Fertilized with Urine Grew 27 Percent Larger

In one experiment, researchers compared beets grown in four different ways: one with conventional mineral fertilizer, another with urine, a third with urine and wood ash, and a final control group grown with no fertilizer.1

The beets fertilized with urine were 10 percent larger, and those fertilized with urine/ash were 27 percent larger than those grown in mineral fertilizer. As for nutrient content, all the beets were similar, and in a blind taste test the beets were rated as equally flavorful.

The researchers concluded that urine is a perfectly viable source of fertilizer, and one that is readily available and sustainable (the average American urinates 500 liters a year):

“ … urine with or without ash can increase the yield of red beet and furthermore the microbial quality and chemical quality were similar to the situation in mineral-fertilized products.”

As for the ‘yuck factor,’ human urine isn’t nearly as ‘gross’ as it seems, since it’s virtually sterile when it leaves your body. It also doesn’t carry bacteria like feces (and manure has been used as fertilizer for centuries).

Further, research suggests that any residual hormones or pharmaceuticals are likely to be negligible and basically non-existent in urine-fertilized crops.2 Urine has also been used to fertilize cabbage, tomatoes, sweet peppers and cucumbers, with similar favorable results, and it’s free – unlike synthetic fertilizers that some farmers around the world can scarcely afford.

Why Isn’t Urine Widely Used as Fertilizer?

For starters, sewage systems would have to be radically redesigned to separate liquid waste from solid, a practice that requires the use of separating toilets that have a divided bowl and independent pipes to keep the urine separate.

There are other benefits to using separating toilets as well, such as less water usage and less energy requirements in sewage treatment. However, neither the toilets, nor the sewage systems, are in widespread use.

If you want to use urine to fertilize your backyard garden, feel free. But keep in mind that urine should be diluted with water at least 10:1 for most plants and should be separated from solid waste to avoid contamination (so collect your urine in a bottle or bucket, or invest in a urine-separating toilet). You can also add urine to your compost heap to enhance its nutritional content.

Interestingly, it’s not only agriculture that could benefit from this sustainable resource; urine has also been used to develop fuel cells capable of charging a cell phone and may one day be used to power a car!

Source:   http://articles.mercola.com