Don't let it 'just' flow

WHAT WHY HOW RESEARCH

alternative uses of human urine as fertilizer

841 million people - NO access to improved sanitation [a]

626 million - practice open defecation [a]

1000 children die everyday from diaahorea [b]

3

India Status

World Health Organization states: "Sanitation generally refers to the provision of facilities and services for the safe disposal of human urine and feces. Inadequate sanitation is a major cause of disease world-wide and improving sanitation is known to have a significant beneficial impact on health both in households and across communities. The word 'sanitation' also refers to the maintenance of hygienic conditions, through services such as garbage collection and wastewater disposal.”

What is Sanitation?

a. Joint Monitoring Program Report 2012 , http://www.wssinfo.org/ b. UNICEF India, http://www.unicef.org/india/reallives_6575.htm WHAT

1

What is ecological sanitation? It is an approach to sanitation where human waste is seen as a reusable nutrient source, which must be returned to the soil thereby “closing the ecological nutrient cycle” soil nutrient food production food consumption waste generation soil nutrient A toilet designed to enable this process of using human waste is called ecosan toilet. In comparison to conventional toilets, ecosan toilets require very little water and exhibit efficient solid-liquid waste management, thus making it environmentally sustainable

Fecal matter and urine collected in the same tank

Solid-liquid waste mix remains in soak pit /septic tank /feeds into sewerage system

Urine used as fertiliser supplement

Solid waste decomposes gradually and used as manure

Soil Nutrients returned to soil

Conventional Toilet Ecosan Toilet

A conventional toilet is a system primarily designed for disposal of human waste. The fate of human waste or its environmental impact is given little consideration. Typically solid and liquid waste gets mixed and is either stored in a septic tank for long durations or fed into sewerage systems. This requires large amounts of water.

Nutrients lost

An ecosan toilet incorporates wider considerations of environmental impact and sustainability in management of human waste. It does not merely restrict itself to disposal. Human waste is seen as a vital source of nutrients which can be reused and fed back into the ecological cycle. The result of this process is efficient solid-liquid waste management.

WHAT The cost of an ecosan toilet varies from Rs 7000 to Rs 15000 based on different types of materials used for construction of the superstructure. 2

separation at source

How does an ecosan toilet work?

3

HOW

Using the toilet

Using the manure

Appearance of a typical ecosan toilet.

1. Urine is collected in the middle basin. A pipe leads it to a container outside.

3. Washing is done in the wash area. The water collects outside through a pipe.

2 (a). Fecal matter is deposited in the storage chamber.

2 (b). A handful of ash, dried leaves, sawdust or grain husk is spread over it and the compartment is covered with lid.

2 (c). The second chamber is used when first fills up. By the time the second chamber fills up, the solid waste in the first chamber decomposes into manure.

+ =

Collected urine is diluted with water (1:1) and used after storing for 2-4 weeks. Urine and water mixture has a potential as fertiliser.

Decomposition of solid waste into manure takes 8-12 months. After this it can be applied/added to the soil as such. Urine Water

WHY

Why ecosan?

Environment

Water

Sustainability

Ecosan is a paradigm shift from the ‘flush and forget’ approach to sanitation. It concerns itself with the fate of waste after it is generated and mere disposal is not its ultimate goal. This approach to human waste impacts the environment significantly.

Water Quality Poor access to sanitation and low levels of sewage treatment implies that human waste is a significant contributor to both ground and surface water pollution. Water Consumption Compared to conventional toilets (5/8 liters of water/use) this system involves minimal use of water.

Ecosan is an effective approach to augment ecological nutrient recycling. The chain from soil nutrient to food production, its consumption and waste generation and placing nutrition back to the soil is completed by ecosan.

4

Geography

Economics

Ecosan toilets are appropriate for:

Water scarce area: Since this toilet requires water only for washing (after defecation) it is suitable for these areas. High water table and flood prone area: In these regions toilets contaminate groundwater with fecal matter, as the waste easily leaches into ground water. Rocky area: Conventional toilets are difficult to construct in rocky areas because waste collection and drainage lies below ground level. Whereas ecosan toilets can be constructed entirely above ground level. Relevance of ecosan toilets during natural disasters and emergencies: The simple design, low cost and short time required for construction makes ecosan toilets very suitable during natural disasters and emergency situations.

Productive potential of human urine

Design and use of ecosan toilets

We have a an unconsidered source of free fertiliser in human waste. Experimental results reveal crop productivity comparable to chemical fertilisers

Ecosan toilet designs are versatile and can be built from a variety of building materials which are locally available. Due to this, cost of construction can also be tailored to the users’ budget.

Why Urine?

WHY

REQUIRED

1 Billion

N

K

P P

N

1.37 liters/day

500 liters /year

kg

kg

kg

million tons

million tons

million tons K

gene

rate

d in

a

year

WASTED

million tons

million tons

million tons

NPK requirement for agriculture in India

N - Nitrogen | P - Phosphorus | K - Potassium

ALW

5

Every person produces around 500 liters o urine in a year which contains 1.5 Kg of Nitrogen, 0.85 kg of Phosphorus and 0.8 Kg of Potassium. Ideally if we collect all the urine produced from a billion people we can produce 1.5 million tons of Nitrogen,0.85 tons of Phosphorus and 0.8 tons of Potassium. This means we could offset national agricultural demand for Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium by 9, 12 and 22 percent respectively.

Initiating Studies in human urine

RESEARCH

Arghyam has lead several initiatives in sustainable sanitation and alternatives for waste reuse. Some evidences related to productive and environmentally safe appropriate use of human waste has emerged from these initiatives.

Lack of any scientific study on the ‘protocol to apply urine’ and ‘its implication on crop yield and soil productivity capacity’ has always concerned the farmers, partner organizations and Arghyam. This gave rise for a need to conduct academic research to understand use o human waste as manure. In 2008, Arghyam partnered with University of Agriculture Sciences (UAS), Bangalore. Being a premier institute in agriculture research and studies, UAS brings with it credibility and their work is thoroughly validated and accepted among the scientific community.UAS led research in ascertaining the use of anthropogenic liquid waste (ALW) or urine as a probable source of soil macronutrients and in characterisation of human urine for its nutrient content. This study was conducted in Bangalore, Karnataka over a period of 4 years on soil types so and so.

6

Objective

1. To develop a protocol on frequency and quantity of application of human liquid waste for selected crops.

2. To study the effect of

application of human liquid waste on growth and yield of crops and economics of cultivation.

3. To study the effect of

application of human liquid waste on physical, chemical and biological properties of soil.

Experiments conducted on

Academic research

Soil Maize Banana Radish Pumpkin Ash Gourd Tomatoes French and Pole beans Other Crops

Hypothesis Test Observe Inference

Application of ALW* as a nutrient source has a positive impact on soil properties and crop growth.

Tested on •Comparative study of crop growth with varying treatment using fertilizer , FYM**, ALW & different ALW combinations with gypsum. •Changes in soil parameters after treating it with varying ALW concentrations and cattle urine with and without gypsum. •Pot experiment with radish plants.

•A combination of ALW + gypsum gives crop growth results at par (partially higher) with recommended dose of fertilizer. •pH levels of soil treated with a combination of ALW + gypsum and soil treated with FYM are similar in values.

Research Methedology

*ALW - Anthropogenic Liquid Waste (Urine) ** Farm Yard Manure

Soil

&

Maize Banana

Radish Pumpkin

Ash Gourd

French and Pole beans

Tomatoes

Other crops

7 RESEARCH

Inference

1. Plots treated with only human or cattle urine have shown higher pH level in soil when compared to plots treated with FYM. However, plots treated with human/cattle urine and gypsum have similar pH level as plots treted with FYM. Similar observation has been made in electrical conductivity of soil.

2. Highest content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, exchangeable calcium, magnesium and micro-nutrients in soil was recorded in plots treated with recommended doses of nitrogen through human urine along with gypsum in three split doses.

Experiment on soil

8

Application of ALW

+ ALW

F

G

in splits

G in splits

U U U

U U U G

G

RD

N

supp

lied

by

Soil

F

G

U

ALW

Water

Fertiliser

Gypsum

Urea

RDN Recommended dose of nitrogen

3. The highest total soluble solids were recorded when both laterite and red soil were

applied with twice the recommended dose of N through human urine.

4. Soil microbes like soil fungi, bacterial, actinomycetes, N-fixers and P-solublizer population is found higher in soil treated with two doses of urine and least in soil treated with chemical fertilisers.

RESEARCH

Inference

1. Best results are observed in vine length, leaf area index, number of branches, leaves per plant of most of the study plants, with application of human urine with gypsum in 3 split doses.

2. Human urine applied with gypsum in 3 splits to Ashgourd, French beans, pole beans and pumpkin has given better yield in comparison with chemical fertilizer/ FYM,/cattle urine applied singly or in different combinations.

3. Content of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, copper and manganese is higher in fruit (Ashgourd, french beans, pole beans and pumpkin) harvested from the plot treated with recommended dose of human urine in combination with gypsum supplied in three split doses.

Experiments with crops

9 RESEARCH

Protocol to use urine for different crops S.No. Crop Name Recommended

dosage of NPK

(kg/hectare)1

Total Urine Required

(in litres)

No. of

Splits

Interval of Application5 Ideal Quantity of

Application

Per Acre Per M2 I II2 III2 IV2 V2

1. French Beans 63:100:75 8400 2.1 3 Sowing time3 25-30

days

15-20

days

-- -- 50 percent during

sowing , rest 50% in

two splits4

2. Field Beans 25:50:25 3333 0.8 3 Sowing time 25-30

days

15-20

days

-- -- 50 percent during

sowing, rest 50% in

two splits

3. Tomato 250:250:250 83333 0.8 4 Transplanting

time

30 days 30 days 30 days -- 25 percent during

transplanting /sowing,

rest 75% in three splits

4. Brinjal 125:100:50 16667 4.2 3 Sowing/transp

lanting time

30 days 50 days -- -- 50 percent during

transplanting /sowing,

rest 50% in two splits

5. Lady Finger 125:75:63 16667 4.2 3 Sowing time 30 days 50 days -- -- 50 percent during

sowing, rest 50% in

two splits

6. Finger Millet 100:50:50 13333 3.3 5-6 Sowing time Transplant

ing

Active

tillering

25% of

flowering

50%

of

floweri

ng

25% during sowing and

25% after

transplanting, rest 50%

in three splits

10

S.No. Crop Name Recommended

dosage of NPK

(kg/hectare)1

Total Urine Required

(in litres)

No. of

Splits

Interval of Application5 Ideal Quantity of

Application

Per Acre Per M2 I II2 III2 IV2 V2

7. Paddy in

aerobic

condition

100:50:50 13333 3.3 5-6 Sowing

time

Flag leave

stage

Active

tillering

Panicle

initiation

Booting 25% during sowing, rest

75% in four splits

8. Maize 150:75:40 20000 5 2-3 Sowing

time

30 days 50 days -- -- 50% during sowing, rest

50% in two splits

9. Soybean 30:80:38 4000 1 2 Sowing

time

50 days 50 days -- -- 50% during sowing, rest

50% in applications

10. Cluster bean 25:75:60 3333.2 0.33 2 Sowing

time

45 days 50 days -- -- 50 percent during

sowing, rest 50% in 2

applications

11. Marigold 225:60:60 30,000 7.5 4 Transplanti

ng

30 days 45 days 60 days -- 25 percent during

transplanting, rest 75%

in three splits

Protocol to use urine for different crops

11

1. As per the Karnataka Package of Practices (PoP) 2. After the previous application 3. It is compulsory to apply urine during sowing/transplanting time 4. Always should be given as top dressing 5. Recommended time for application of urine is either in early morning (6 to 7 am) or in evening (5-6 pm) (after sunset) 6. Urine should be applied with rose can or any plastic bowl 7. Recommendations are made for soil application only

About

Arghyam UAS, Bangalore

Text from Madhavi/Surashree Text from Surashree

121

Published By: Arghyam, Bangalore, India Citation: Don't let it 'just' flow Produced By: Arghyam, 2012 Available From: ARGHYAM, #599, 12th Main, HAL 2nd Stage,Indiranagar, Bangalore, Karnataka INDIA. PIN- 560008 Email: info@arghyam.org | Phone: +91 (080) 41698941 / 42 Fax: +91 (080) 41698943| www.arghyam.org

Arghyam acknowledges the support of its partners - University of Agriculture Sciences, who have contributed to Arghyam’s ecosan initiative.