Reply: Human urine fertiliser as a business in Malawi.

8384 views

Page selection:
  • Robert74
  • Robert74's Avatar
    Topic Author
  • ORIAZ Solar-Dripper inventor + Urinette
  • Posts: 37
  • Karma: 1
  • Likes received: 12

Re: Reply: Human urine fertiliser as a business in Malawi.

Dear Chaiwe

Yes there are many published references on the urine medical residues.

Like any fertilizer or manure, the required precautions are in fact for the workers who must have adequate protection to avoid skin or respiratory contact.  Workers just needs some appropriate tools to avoid splashing.

After 5 years of tests and exchanges with wordwide specialists and review of the literature my conclusion is totally favorable to the use of human urine.

I have not found any case of someone affected by a medical residue from urine-fertilized cultures. There are thousands of other toxic possibilities in agriculture. For exemple with chemical fertilizers and residues of cadmium from phosphorus. Chemicals used on farms are damaging soil and can affect the health of farmers.

Concerning urine medical residues:

- The SEI repport explains how the soil is more effective at degrading medical waste than sewage systems.

- Hammer and Clemens have published a repport in 2007 showing that human urine contains LESS medical residues than farm manure. 

- In USA, the Rich Earth Institute showed me their measurements made on lettuce medical uptake. It would take you thousands of years of daily consumption to have the equivalent of a daily dose of medicine.

I continued my research comparing the mode of absorption of molecules by plants vs animals. 

Plant roots are 100 to 10 000 times more selective.  Plants do not absorb large carbon molecules like our digestive systems.  Plants absorb water and smaller minerals ions.   Therefore medical residues ( larger molecules) remain longer in the soil to continue their peaceful degradation.


In short, I continue to treat myself and to make taste the cultures of my Symbiotic garden. 
The growth is super. I never had such a high sugar content in my tomatoes ( 12.2 °Bx).

My visitors enjoy it in France just like other studies in Finland, Sweden, USA, Swiss and Africa show that these crops are delicious.

See it in this video:



Enjoy !

Robert Cossette

solar-dripper.com/en/how-to-use-urine-fertilizer/


I had responded to rumors and fears conveyed in France on this subject at the beginning of the year. 
See my letter and some pictures of the garden.
Robert Cossette

solar-dripper.com
Attachments:
The following user(s) like this post: canaday, samshancn, Chaiwe
You need to login to reply
  • rochelleholm
  • rochelleholm's Avatar
  • Posts: 97
  • Karma: 4
  • Likes received: 35

Re: Reply: Human urine fertiliser as a business in Malawi.

Adding a  reference to another side of this fertilizer or manure discussion, also from Malawi:

Mallory, A., Holm R. and Crapper M. “When faecal sludge reuse doesn’t work: a look at access for the poorest and people with disabilities in urban Malawi” at the 41st WEDC International Conference, Nakuru, Kenya from 9th – 13th July 2018.

wedc-knowledge.lboro.ac.uk/resources/con.../41/Mallory-2915.pdf

Abstract below added by the moderator PCP:
Reusing faecal sludge to generate value has the potential to contribute towards solving the issue of long term sanitation solutions in cities across Sub-Saharan Africa. This research was conducted to evaluate the potential for faecal sludge reuse in Malawi, and the difficulties and challenges to existing attempts at reuse in a city. We conducted 65 semi-structured interviews in a city of Malawi. The results show that two main approaches exist currently: The implementation of Skyloos as above ground household toilets which provide compost; and a central disposal site from which compost is illegally harvested. Both existing approaches to faecal sludge management and reuse were found to be inaccessible and not working when implemented for the poorest and people with disabilities.
Rochelle Holm, Ph.D., PMP
Mzuzu (Malawi)
You need to login to reply
  • paresh
  • paresh's Avatar
  • Budding WASH researcher, especially interested in governance, public policy, finance, politics and social justice. Architect, Urban & Regional planner by training, Ex. C-WAS, India. I am a patient person :)
  • Posts: 276
  • Karma: 7
  • Likes received: 112

Re: Reply: Human urine fertiliser as a business in Malawi.

Dear Rochelle,
Thank you for sharing your conference paper. I am not sure if the abstract captures the argument/s of the paper. The last two sentences on the other hand capture it well in my opinion. 

To ensure equitable access to sanitation in urban areas for vulnerable people, the design of household sanitation for beneficial reuse has to focus on ease of access and maintenance tasks as a priority. In terms of reuse in agriculture any designs intended to target vulnerable groups in society need to account for transport distances and intense physical requirements.

[/size][/font]And I was curious how the project ended up looking at accessibility of sanitation facilities and accessibility for reuse of faecal sludge. Was it  by accident/happenstance or was it planned? I don't think I've come across that combination elsewhere. 

Regards
paresh
Paresh Chhajed-Picha
Researcher at Indian Institute of Technology - Bombay, India
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Twitter: @Sparsh85
Wikipedia: Sparsh85

Co-moderator of this discussion forum
You need to login to reply
  • rochelleholm
  • rochelleholm's Avatar
  • Posts: 97
  • Karma: 4
  • Likes received: 35

Re: Reply: Human urine fertiliser as a business in Malawi.

Hello Paresh,
In Malawi we have been looking at accessibility of sanitation facilities for several years in our other work, so the issue of reuse of faecal sludge not working well for the poorest and people with disabilities in urban Malawi complements our other ongoing research work and also efforts to document lessons learned from the field.

Rochelle 
Rochelle Holm, Ph.D., PMP
Mzuzu (Malawi)
The following user(s) like this post: paresh
You need to login to reply
  • HAPitot
  • HAPitot's Avatar
  • Environmental engineer with a passion for low cost and resource recovery issues in sanitation
  • Posts: 117
  • Karma: 13
  • Likes received: 44

Re: Reply: Human urine fertiliser as a business in Malawi.

Dear all,

I was reading these older discussions, and I feel compelled to voice my views about them.

I think a difference has to be made between fecal sludge and urine.  Urine carries very few if any pathogens, whereas fecal sludge is showing all the pathogens that can be in feces.  Some time back, I was telling a former doctor and a present day friend of mine I am using a bit of the urine I am producing in my garden, and I was expecting a skeptical response.  To my surprise he was encouraging me to do so.  He was telling me that urine is considered sterile by the medical community (even though strictly speaking it can carry some rather rare diseases, which get killed within a few days of storage of the urine), and he was saying urine should be used on a large scale in agriculture.  The issue is psychological rather than real.

In my case, I noticed nitrogen deficiency in my garden (the typical yellowish leaves with green veins), especially among strawberries, and that has compelled me to try the use of urine on all of my fruits.  So far, the strawberries and other fruits had only been fertilized with shredded branches, leaves, some compost, etc..  Within a year, there was no sign of nitrogen deficiency, and the plants are making a very healthy impression.  So, no problem about urine, but it should preferably be complemented by a source of carbon in order to 'feed' the soil.  Compost is ideal, but mulch is OK, too.

Getting back to what Robert was reporting years ago regarding the application of urine during the northern winter...  I don't think it makes much of a difference whether you use urine on coniferous or decidious trees.  While coniferous trees may still be having a bit of photosynthesis in winter, the leaves under decidious trees will need nitrogen and other nutrients for their decomposition.  I think the more important parameter is the quality, more precisely the iron exchange capacity of the soil.  Soils with a good exchange capacity, i.e. in particular with a lot of humus, will be able to store the nutrients they obtain from the application of urine until the next growing season.  So, it's not even necessary to have anything growing during winter applications as long as the soils are good.  I would think these thoughts would also hold for the dry season in hot countries.

Hanns-André
Hanns-Andre Pitot
M.Eng. Environmental Pollution Control
presently in Seesen, Germany
The following user(s) like this post: AjitSeshadri
You need to login to reply
  • AjitSeshadri
  • AjitSeshadri's Avatar
  • Marine Chief Engineer by profession (1971- present) and at present Faculty in Marine Engg. Deptt. Vels University, Chennai, India. Also proficient in giving Environmental solutions , Designation- Prof. Ajit Seshadri, Head- Environment, The Vigyan Vijay Foundation, NGO, New Delhi, INDIA , Consultant located at present at Chennai, India
  • Posts: 221
  • Likes received: 47

Re: Reply: Human urine fertiliser as a business in Malawi.

Dear Researcher Member
Dr H A Pilot.

Kudos and Congrats. 
For your bold approach on urine as a usable resource.
Will deliberate on the urine usage as fertiliser Etc.
We have in our Forum a Chinese professor practices on urine as widespreD usage.
Will deliberate. 
My email pl note 
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
Can discuss. Thanks

Prof Ajit Seshadri 
www.vigyanvijay.org  
Prof. Ajit Seshadri, Faculty in Marine Engg. Deptt. Vels University, and
Head-Environment , VigyanVijay Foundation, Consultant (Water shed Mngmnt, WWT, WASH, others)Located at present at Chennai, India
You need to login to reply
  • HAPitot
  • HAPitot's Avatar
  • Environmental engineer with a passion for low cost and resource recovery issues in sanitation
  • Posts: 117
  • Karma: 13
  • Likes received: 44

Re: Reply: Human urine fertiliser as a business in Malawi.

Dear Prof. Seshadri,

Many thanks for your encouraging response.  Shall write to you.

Kind regards,

H-A
Hanns-Andre Pitot
M.Eng. Environmental Pollution Control
presently in Seesen, Germany
The following user(s) like this post: AjitSeshadri
You need to login to reply
  • AjitSeshadri
  • AjitSeshadri's Avatar
  • Marine Chief Engineer by profession (1971- present) and at present Faculty in Marine Engg. Deptt. Vels University, Chennai, India. Also proficient in giving Environmental solutions , Designation- Prof. Ajit Seshadri, Head- Environment, The Vigyan Vijay Foundation, NGO, New Delhi, INDIA , Consultant located at present at Chennai, India
  • Posts: 221
  • Likes received: 47

Re: Reply: Human urine fertiliser as a business in Malawi.

Dr H A PITOT Sir,

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Pl get in touch.
Pl take my reference
SusanA member..
Prof. Ajit Seshadri, Faculty in Marine Engg. Deptt. Vels University, and
Head-Environment , VigyanVijay Foundation, Consultant (Water shed Mngmnt, WWT, WASH, others)Located at present at Chennai, India
You need to login to reply
Page selection:
Share this thread:
Recently active users. Who else has been active?
Time to create page: 0.283 seconds