Conseils Pratiques pour une Utilisation de l’Urine en Production Agricole

The document outlines the use of human urine as a nutrient-rich, low-cost alternative to chemical fertilizers. It details the composition of urine, application strategies to maximize crop yields while minimizing ammonia loss, and a multi-barrier risk management approach based on WHO guidelines to ensure health safety. The guide also addresses the economic value of urine, institutional frameworks for implementation, and provides case studies from Sweden, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

• Human urine is a high-quality nitrogen fertilizer that can provide yields comparable to chemical fertilizers. In Burkina Faso, research showed that vegetable yields for eggplant, okra, and tomato fertilized with stored urine did not differ statistically from those using mineral fertilizers.
• The nutrient content of urine is directly linked to human diet, allowing for estimations based on FAO food supply data. An adult typically produces 0.8 to 1.5 liters of urine per day, and the annual output of one person can fertilize 300-400 m² of crops at a level of 50-100 kg N/ha.
• The economic value of urine can be calculated by comparing its nutrient content to the market price of mineral fertilizers. In Burkina Faso, a 20-liter container of urine is estimated at 0.25 USD, and the total annual nutrient value per person is approximately 10 USD.
• Health risks from using human urine are generally low, provided there is minimal fecal cross-contamination. The guide advocates for a 'multiple barrier' approach from 'toilet to table' based on 2006 WHO guidelines, including source separation, storage, application techniques, and a minimum one-month waiting period before harvest.
• To prevent ammonia loss and crop burns, urine should be applied close to the soil and incorporated immediately. Foliar application is not recommended. Dilution with water (commonly 1:3 or 1:5) can reduce odors and the risk of toxicity, though it increases labor and transport costs.
• In arid regions, the salt content of urine (approximately 8.8 g of NaCl per liter) can lead to soil salinization and reduced crop yields. Monitoring soil salinity and adapting irrigation practices, such as alternating urine with pure water, is necessary in these environments.
• Large-scale urine collection systems, such as those in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and Vaxholm, Sweden, face institutional and economic challenges. In both cases, the fertilizer value of the urine alone is often insufficient to cover transport and storage costs, necessitating municipal subsidies or household fees.

APA

Richert, A., Gensch, R., Jönsson, H., Stenström, T.-A., & Dagerskog, L. (2011). Conseils Pratiques pour une Utilisation de l’Urine en Production Agricole. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Book-Stenstrom-ConseilsPratiquesPourUneUtilisationDeLUrineEnProductionAgricole-2011.pdf

Chicago

Richert, Anna, Robert Gensch, Håkan Jönsson, Thor-Axel Stenström, and Linus Dagerskog. Conseils Pratiques pour une Utilisation de l’Urine en Production Agricole. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2011. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Book-Stenstrom-ConseilsPratiquesPourUneUtilisationDeLUrineEnProductionAgricole-2011.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Richert |first1=Anna |last2=Gensch |first2=Robert |last3=Jönsson |first3=Håkan |last4=Stenström |first4=Thor-Axel |last5=Dagerskog |first5=Linus |title=Conseils Pratiques pour une Utilisation de l’Urine en Production Agricole |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=November 2011 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Book-Stenstrom-ConseilsPratiquesPourUneUtilisationDeLUrineEnProductionAgricole-2011.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{richert2011conseils, author = {Richert, Anna and Gensch, Robert and Jönsson, Håkan and Stenström, Thor-Axel and Dagerskog, Linus}, title = {{Conseils Pratiques pour une Utilisation de l’Urine en Production Agricole}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2011}, month = nov, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Book-Stenstrom-ConseilsPratiquesPourUneUtilisationDeLUrineEnProductionAgricole-2011.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }