Guía Práctica de Uso de la Orina en la Producción Agrícola

The 'Guía Práctica de Uso de la Orina en la Producción Agrícola' is a comprehensive guide published by the Stockholm Environment Institute that provides technical, economic, and institutional frameworks for using human urine as a sustainable agricultural fertilizer. It details the nutrient composition of urine, application strategies, risk management based on WHO guidelines, and case studies from various global regions to support the transition toward productive sanitation systems.

• Human urine is a high-quality, low-cost alternative to mineral nitrogen fertilizers, containing significant amounts of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in forms readily available to plants. Nitrogen concentrations typically range from 3 to 7 grams per liter.
• The economic value of urine can be estimated by comparing its nutrient content to the market price of chemical fertilizers. In Burkina Faso, the annual nutrient value of excreta per person is approximately 10 USD, while the potential increase in maize production from using this fertilizer is estimated at 50 USD.
• Health risks associated with using human urine in agriculture are generally low, provided that fecal cross-contamination is minimized. The guide advocates for a 'multiple barrier' strategy based on WHO (2006) guidelines, which includes source separation, storage, specific application techniques, and a mandatory one-month waiting period between the last application and harvest.
• To prevent ammonia loss and crop toxicity, urine should be stored in closed containers and applied directly to the soil rather than the plant foliage. It should be incorporated into the soil as quickly as possible after application.
• Field trials across different regions demonstrate that urine fertilization can produce yields comparable to or higher than mineral fertilizers. Examples include increased grain yields for maize in India, higher biomass for cabbage and spinach in South Africa, and improved fruit production for bananas in India.
• High application rates of urine can lead to soil salinization, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. This salt stress can decrease plant growth and yield, necessitating the use of dilution and alternating irrigation with pure water in these environments.
• The guide emphasizes the importance of a gender perspective in implementing productive sanitation, noting that women often manage household food security and small-scale gardens, but may face limitations in education and time.
• Institutionalizing the use of urine in agriculture requires identifying stakeholders, involving farmers in early planning, and establishing clear legal and regulatory frameworks. In Sweden, the Environmental Code supports nutrient recycling, though economic incentives for on-site systems are still lacking.

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} }