Chapters 4.13
4.13 - Treating seeds with urine
Evelyn Murray, University of Guelph, Canada
Suggested citation for this chapter.
Murray,E. (2022) Treating seeds with urine. In Farmpedia, The Encyclopedia for Small Scale Farmers. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.farmpedia.org
Background
A prominent issue that affects worldwide crop production is soil acidity, especially in developing nations. India for example is particularly affected with 95% of their soil being acidic (Kumar, 2014). This acidity creates deficiencies in minerals such as phosphorus and zinc which in turn reduces crop yields. In these developing nations where the farmers are economically poor, high cost commercial fertilizers to solve the problem are simply unattainable (Kumar, 2014). Another issue is the lack of ability by many smallholder farmers to manage soil texture and structure leading to insufficient seedling emergence which is pronounced in low rainfall regions (Nawaz et al., 2013).
Indigenous agricultural practices have potential to combat these challenges and help to create a sustainable agricultural system. The knowledge and technologies in traditional practices have been developed over generations and are deeply rooted (Karthikeyan et al., 2006). It is argued that in contrast to modern agricultural practices, traditional practices are “socially desirable, economically affordable, sustainable and involved minimum risk to rural farmers and producers” (Karthikeyan et al., 2006).This chapter concerns seed priming with urine, an indigenous technology to add nutrients to crops and improve seed germination.
Seed Priming with Urine
Good quality seed is a crucial factor in agriculture for obtaining higher yields and sustained productivity (Amarnath et al., 2015). Seed priming simply means the soaking of seeds just prior to sowing. Seed priming techniques, both traditional and modern, have been practiced in many different countries such as India, Pakistan, China, Australia (Nawaz et al., 2013). and such techniques have also been used recently in parts of West Africa (Peace Corps Mali, 2009). It is simple, low cost, easy to practice long-term and not time consuming (Nawaz et al., 2013).. Seed priming has been shown to help promote seed germination, and activate seedling enzymes involved in making available seed nutrients and promoting natural pathogen/pest defence systems (Nawaz et al., 2013).. A study testing the effects of seed priming techniques using water, found that seed germination increased to 91.4% from 71.2% (Soleimanzadeh, 2013). Good establishment of seeds is important in controlling weeds, drought tolerance, and increasing yields (Nawaz et al., 2013). The same study found that seed priming led to an increase in seed yield from 4.291 ton.ha-1 to 5.413 ton.ha-1 (Soleimanzadeh, 2013). These factors are important for crops in tropical regions including sorghum, rice, maize and pigeon pea (Nawaz et al., 2013).
One very effective seed priming technique is the soaking of seeds in human or cow urine. Urine promotes plant growth. Urine is abundant in essential plant nutrients, with one litre containing 11grams of nitrogen, 0.8 grams of phosphorus and 2 grams of potassium. Urine also has a high water content, important for areas that are dry at the time of sowing (Morgan, 2004). Nitrogen is a building block for chlorophyll and protein. Phosphorus promotes seed germination and helps with root formation (Morgan, 2004).
The use of urine as a seed primer has been shown to improve crop yield and growth, particularly on low-fertility and acidic soils (Kumar, 2014). Studies have shown that seed priming with urine increases seed germination from 76.5% to 85.2%,seedling length from 28.16 cm to 39.53 cm, root length from 10.68 cm to 16.65 cm and shoot length from 17.48 cm 22.88 cm (Amarnath et al., 2015) . The technique is extremely simple, as there are only two steps. First the urine is diluted by 2.5 times in water and added to the seeds which are soaked in it for 16 hours. Second, in order to reduce moisture in the seeds, they are let to air dry, after which they are ready to be sown in the field (Kumar, 2014)
Case study: Indigenous Indian method of seed hardening of finger millet seed (ragi) using cow urine (Karthikeyan et al., 2006). -- Seed hardening is effective in helping seeds cope with poor soil moisture conditions and water stress. The method has been found to be capable of combatting seed borne diseases (e.g. Smut) and in activating drought resistance. When testing seed hardening techniques effects on growth under drought conditions it was found that seed germination increased from 51% to up to 89% with grain yield increasing by up to 37% (Amin et al., 2016). The method has been adopted by 60% of farmers in Thondamuthur village, Tamil Nadu, India.
Method: 1. Mix 100 ml of fresh cow’s urine with 1 L cold water (6 L of solution is needed for 6 kg of finger millet seeds) 2. Keeping solution 3-4 cm above the seed level, soak the seeds for about 16 hours 3. Seeds are shade dried for 24 hours before being used for sowing operation
Spraying Crops with Urine
The most common use of urine for plants, which has similar positive effects on crop growth and yield as priming, is to dilute human urine (or cow’s urine, however many rural farmers do not have cows) and spray it on crops as an organic fertilizer (Peace Corps Mali, 2009). The collection and application is described below:
Estimated cost for the entire process: 1.85-3.06 US$
Collection Method(Peace Corps Mali, 2009):
1. Obtain a 20 L clear jug and a large mouth funnel that fits tightly in the jug
2. Tightly tie a piece of rubber where the funnel and jug meet in order to ensure ammonia does not escape
3. Make a seal for the mouth of the funnel using 3 or 4 plastic bags inside one another, the inner most filled partly with water, and place in the hole of the funnel
4. The mixture should be 1 part urine, 3 parts water so mark a line half way up the jug and a quarter way up the jug
5. When creating the mixture fill water up to the first line than only urine until the half way mark
6. Let the jug sit for 2 days in order to kill any schistosomiasis (disease caused by parasitic flatworms)
7. Fill the jug the rest of the way with water and mix together
Here is a link to helpful illustrations of the collection method: http://forest.mtu.edu/pcforestry/resources/studentprojects/Urine%20Fertilizer%20Sheet%20in%20English.pdf
*Women and children can use a bucket or cup in order to pour urine into the container. Or see the Ecosan or Skyloo options below.
Ecosan toilets: This is a new environmentally friendly, dry sanitation system that is being constructed around the developing world including India and South Africa (Ecosan Waterless Toilet System, n.d.). The toilets are being implemented in countries that suffer from chronic water shortage as they do not use any water and do not contaminate ground water. They are sustainable as they are easy to install and maintain and are easily transported. Many adaptations of the system are constructed to separate the feces and the urine in order to use the urine as a fertilizer/insecticide on plants immediately while the feces go through a composting and disinfection process.
Helpful resources for Ecosan:
- Ecosan toilet Website: http://www.ecosan.co.za/
- Constructing an Ecosan toilet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV-1To9DkJQ
- The “Skyloo” urine diversion toilet: http://www.ecosanres.org/pdf_files/PM_Report/Chapter_11_Urine_diversion-how_to_build_single_vault_toilet_a.pdf
*When collecting urine it is important to ensure that there is no contamination with fecal matter Application Method(Peace Corps Mali, 2009):
1. Start applying the urine 2 weeks after sowing and stop applying it 3 weeks before harvest. If one applies it too early it stunts growth, and applying it after 3 weeks will be ineffective.
2. Use 4 L of the mixture for 1 square meter of crops.
3. The mixture must be poured near the ground as to not get on the leaves; apply mixture evenly.
4. Once the mixture has seeped into the ground (which should take less than a minute) immediately water it in order to ensure the nitrogen does not escape.
Case study: Pest control using cow’s urine (Karthikeyan et al., 2006). – This is an organic and traditional method of pest control using green leaves of specific plants and cow urine. The method is cost effective. The green leaves and urine have insecticidal properties at no extra cost. The method is likely restricted to South Asia as the green leaves are found there:
- Sources of green leaves: neem (Azadirachta indica), pungam (Pungamia pinnata), nochi (Vitex negundo), erukku (Calotropis gigantea), and Tulsi (basil)
- Shown to be effective on the following crops: paddy rice, red gram (pigeon pea), black gram (mungo beans), brinjal (eggplant) and bhendi (okra) as well as many others
- Shown to be effective in repelling the following pests: aphids, leafhoppers, borers and beetles.
Method:
1. Crush 1 kg of each of the green leaves using an ‘ural’ (granite stone milling tool)
2. Mix the crushed leaves in with 100 L of cow urine
3. In a vessel, allow the mixture to ferment for 10-15 days until it obtains an “obnoxious” odour; using a wooden stick stir solution daily.
4. Once fermentation is completed, filter solution using a cotton cloth
5. Use 10 L of the solution spray on 1 acre of cropped land on 1.5 month old crops.
Picture Based Lesson to Train Farmers
For the South Asian version (pictures only, text for you to insert), click this link for lesson 5.13:http://www.sakbooks.com/uploads/8/1/5/7/81574912/5.13_south_asian.pdf.
For the East/South Asian version (pictures only, text for you to insert), click this link for lesson 5.13:http://www.sakbooks.com/uploads/8/1/5/7/81574912/5.13e.s.a.pdf
For the Sub-Saharan Africa/Caribbean version (pictures only, text for you to insert), click this link for lesson 5.13:http://www.sakbooks.com/uploads/8/1/5/7/81574912/5.13subsaharan_africa_carribean.pdf
For the Latin-America version (pictures only, text for you to insert), click this link for lesson 5.13:http://www.sakbooks.com/uploads/8/1/5/7/81574912/5.13latin_america.pdf
For North Africa And Middle East version (pictures only, text for you to insert), click this link for lesson Chapter 5. 4.12:http://www.sakbooks.com/uploads/8/1/5/7/81574912/4.12n._africa_middleeast.pdf
Source: MN Raizada and L Smith (2016) A Picture Book of Best Practices for Subsistence Farmers. eBook, University of Guelph Sustainable Agriculture Kit (SAK) Project, June 2016, Guelph, Canada.
Important considerations: Helpful hints and potential problems
Do not apply undiluted urine directly to the roots of plants: Plants will most likely die if treated with undiluted urine because too much nitrogen will burn the plant roots. One can apply undiluted urine to the topsoil several weeks before planting which will help enhance growth; but one must be careful as heavy rain can flush out the nutrients. Undiluted urine can also be applied to soil near the plant but must be watered immediately after (Morgan, 2004).
Soil type and quality are important: Fertile soil contains more bacteria which makes it more effective at converting urine from urea to nitrate salt and is therefore more effective than poor soils. If one applies urine to poor, sandy soil the urine will not convert properly and it can stunt the growth of the plants. In order to use urine effectively it must have good quality, humus-like soil (Morgan, 2004).
The age of the plant is important: More mature plants are able to handle a higher concentration of urine and water. If the quality of soil is poor, young plants can be killed even with diluted water (Morgan, 2004).
This process takes time: whether one is soaking the seeds or spraying on crops both processes take time. One must take into account both soaking and drying time. With the use of any traditional or modern planters, seeds may stick so one must re-dry during the soaking process. Most nutrients in the urine must be converted into plant food first meaning they are not available right away to the plant, and therefore must take time for the conversion process before spraying. Nitrogen for example must be converted to ammonia from urea, then to nitrate and then eventually nitrate salt. Pure nitrate is actually toxic to plants (Morgan, 2004).
Storing urine: use plastic containers for storage as metal containers will corrode. Keep in mind when storing urine to keep it well sealed in order to prevent ammonia from escaping (Morgan, 2004).
Urine can be used as pest control during storage: Many rural farmers use wooden bins for storage of seeds which can be easily penetrated by pests. In order to prevent this, an effective indigenous Indian method is to take cow dung, mud, mustard cake and carbon from an iron plate and mix with cow urine to make a paste which can be plastered on the storage bins acting as a pest repellent (Mehta et al., 2009)
Adding plant matter to urine can balance nutrients: Plants can be added to urine that will ferment and therefore change the balance of the nutrients (Morgan, 2004).
References
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