Guía Práctica de Uso de la Orina en la Producción Agrícola

The document serves as a comprehensive manual for professionals and decision-makers on the safe and effective application of human urine in agriculture. It details the nutrient composition of urine, provides evidence from global field trials showing yields comparable to mineral fertilizers, and outlines a 'multiple barrier' risk management strategy based on WHO guidelines to prevent pathogen transmission. The guide also addresses the economic value of urine, institutional frameworks for implementation, and provides a specific local guideline example for Niger.

• Human urine is a high-quality, low-cost liquid fertilizer rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur, with nutrient availability comparable to chemical fertilizers.
• Field research in Burkina Faso demonstrated that crops fertilized with stored urine achieved yields that were not statistically different from those treated with mineral fertilizers for eggplant, okra, and tomato.
• The annual urine production of one adult is sufficient to fertilize 300 to 400 square meters of crops at a nitrogen level of approximately 50 to 100 kg N/ha.
• The economic value of urine can be estimated by comparing it to local mineral fertilizer prices; in Burkina Faso, the nutrient value of excreta for one person is estimated at approximately 10 USD per year.
• Health risks associated with urine use are generally low, provided there is minimal fecal cross-contamination; the document recommends a 'multiple barrier' strategy including source separation, storage, and a minimum one-month waiting period before harvest.
• To prevent ammonia loss and odors, urine should be stored in closed containers and incorporated into the soil as quickly as possible after application, rather than being applied to leaves.
• In arid regions, the use of urine must be carefully controlled to avoid soil salinization, as it is a solution of salts (approximately 150 mM NaCl) that can cause salt stress in plants.
• The risk of contamination from pharmaceutical residues and hormones in urine is considered low and significantly lower than the risks associated with using sewage sludge or animal manure.
• Institutional sustainability for large-scale urine recovery systems often requires municipal subsidies or household fees, as the market value of the nutrients alone is typically insufficient to cover transport and handling costs.

APA

Richert, A., Gensch, R., Jönsson, H., Stenström, T.-A., & Dagerskog, L. (2011). Guía Práctica de Uso de la Orina en la Producción Agrícola. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Book-Stenstrom-GuiaPracticaDeUsoDeLaOrinaEnLaProduccionAgricola.pdf

Chicago

Richert, Anna, Robert Gensch, Håkan Jönsson, Thor-Axel Stenström, and Linus Dagerskog. Guía Práctica de Uso de la Orina en la Producción Agrícola. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2011. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Book-Stenstrom-GuiaPracticaDeUsoDeLaOrinaEnLaProduccionAgricola.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=Guía Práctica de Uso de la Orina en la Producción Agrícola |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=June 2011 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Book-Stenstrom-GuiaPracticaDeUsoDeLaOrinaEnLaProduccionAgricola.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{richert2011gua, author = {Richert, Anna and Gensch, Robert and Jönsson, Håkan and Stenström, Thor-Axel and Dagerskog, Linus}, title = {{Guía Práctica de Uso de la Orina en la Producción Agrícola}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2011}, month = jun, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Book-Stenstrom-GuiaPracticaDeUsoDeLaOrinaEnLaProduccionAgricola.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }