Practical Guidance on the Use of Urine in Crop Production

The document outlines the nutrient composition, economic value, and safe application of human urine as a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. It details a multi-barrier approach to manage health risks, provides evidence from global field trials showing yields comparable to mineral fertilizers, and offers a framework for developing local guidelines and large-scale collection systems.

• Human urine is a high-quality, nitrogen-rich liquid fertilizer containing macronutrients (N, P, K) and sulphur in plant-available forms, often providing yields comparable to chemical fertilizers.
• The amount of nutrients excreted by a person can be estimated using FAO food supply statistics; for example, the annual excreta from one family in Niger is roughly equivalent to one 50 kg bag of urea and one 50 kg bag of NPK fertilizer.
• Health risks from urine use are generally low, provided there is minimal faecal cross-contamination. The document advocates for a WHO-based multi-barrier approach including source separation, storage, and a minimum one-month withholding period before harvest.
• To prevent ammonia loss and foliar burning, urine should be stored in closed containers and applied directly to the soil or incorporated immediately after spreading.
• Urine application can lead to soil salinization, particularly in arid regions, necessitating monitoring and the adaptation of irrigation practices such as watering down the urine.
• The economic value of urine is significant when compared to local mineral fertilizer prices; in Burkina Faso, the nutrient value of urine produced by one person per year is estimated between 4-7 Euros.
• Field trials across various regions demonstrate the effectiveness of urine on diverse crops: in India, it increased maize grain yield to 8.10 t ha-1; in Ghana, P and K enriched urine increased sorghum yield about 3.5 times.
• Large-scale implementation requires institutional frameworks that include stakeholder analysis, the involvement of farmers in planning, and the creation of feedback arenas to manage the supply chain.
• Gender mainstreaming is essential for sustainable implementation, as women often manage household food security and small-scale gardens, but may face greater time constraints and lower access to formal training.

APA

Richert, A., Gensch, R., Jönsson, H., Stenström, T.-A., & Dagerskog, L. (2010). Practical Guidance on the Use of Urine in Crop Production. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Book-Stenstrom-PracticalGuidanceOnTheUseOfUrineInCropProduction.pdf

Chicago

Richert, Anna, Robert Gensch, Håkan Jönsson, Thor-Axel Stenström, and Linus Dagerskog. Practical Guidance on the Use of Urine in Crop Production. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2010. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Book-Stenstrom-PracticalGuidanceOnTheUseOfUrineInCropProduction.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=Practical Guidance on the Use of Urine in Crop Production |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2010 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Book-Stenstrom-PracticalGuidanceOnTheUseOfUrineInCropProduction.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{richert2010practical, author = {Richert, Anna and Gensch, Robert and Jönsson, Håkan and Stenström, Thor-Axel and Dagerskog, Linus}, title = {{Practical Guidance on the Use of Urine in Crop Production}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2010}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Book-Stenstrom-PracticalGuidanceOnTheUseOfUrineInCropProduction.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }