Practical Guidance on the Use of Urine in Crop Production

This guide provides technical and institutional recommendations for using human urine as a liquid fertilizer in crop production. It details the nutrient composition of urine, application strategies to maximize yield and minimize ammonia loss, and a multi-barrier health risk management approach based on WHO guidelines. The document also offers a framework for developing local guidelines and presents case studies from Sweden, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

• Human urine is a nitrogen-rich, quick-acting liquid fertilizer containing macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) and micronutrients in plant-available forms. It can often replace chemical fertilizers and produce similar yields; for example, field research in Burkina Faso showed no statistical difference in vegetable yields between crops fertilized with stored urine and those using mineral fertilizers.
• The nutrient content of urine is directly linked to diet. As a general rule, urine contains 3-7 grams of nitrogen per litre. An adult typically produces 0.8-1.5 litres of urine per day, and the annual output from one person is sufficient to fertilize 300-400 square meters of crop to a nitrogen level of approximately 50-100 kg N/ha.
• To maximize effectiveness and minimize environmental and health risks, urine should be stored in closed containers to prevent ammonia loss and applied directly to the soil rather than the plant foliage. It should be incorporated into the soil as quickly as possible to reduce gaseous emissions and odors.
• Health risks from using human urine are generally low, provided faecal cross-contamination is minimized. The document advocates for a WHO-recommended 'multi-barrier' approach from 'toilet to table,' which includes source separation, storage/treatment, specific application techniques, crop restrictions, a minimum one-month withholding period before harvest, and proper food handling.
• The economic value of urine can be estimated by comparing its nutrient content to the price of local mineral fertilizers. In Burkina Faso, the annual nutrient value of excreta from one person is approximately 10 US dollars, though the resulting increase in maize yield is estimated at 50 US dollars.
• While urine is generally safe, it can cause soil salinization in arid regions due to its sodium chloride content (approximately 8.8 g per litre). In such areas, monitoring is required, and irrigation practices should be adapted, such as watering down the urine or alternating urine applications with water only.
• The risk of pharmaceutical and hormone residues in urine is considered low when applied to agricultural land at levels meeting plant needs. Soil is viewed as a more effective medium for the natural degradation of these organic compounds than water bodies due to higher oxygen levels and diverse microbial flora.
• Implementing large-scale urine reuse systems requires addressing institutional and regulatory gaps. Key recommendations include conducting stakeholder analyses, involving farmers in initial planning, and establishing local monitoring structures. In Sweden, the Environmental Code supports nutrient reuse, but a lack of economic incentives and strategic municipal planning remains a barrier.
• Gender mainstreaming is essential for sustainable implementation, as women often manage household food security and small-scale gardens but face greater time constraints and lower access to formal training than men.

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} }