Treating Seeds with Urine
4.13 - Treating seeds with urine
Evelyn Murray, University of Guelph, Canada
Related video(s): Human urine as fertilizer (Source: Access Agriculture)
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. 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 its 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 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 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 involve 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 and 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 seed nutrients available 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, as it is abundant in essential plant nutrients: one litre contains 11 grams 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, while 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 to 22.88 cm (Amarnath et al., 2015). The technique is extremely simple, involving 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 left 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 capable of combatting seed-borne diseases (e.g. smut) and activating drought resistance. When testing the effects of seed hardening techniques 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 the solution 3–4 cm above the seed level, soak the seeds for about 16 hours
3. Shade dry seeds for 24 hours before using them for the sowing operation
Spraying Crops with Urine
The most common use of urine for plants, which has effects on crop growth and yield similar to priming, is to dilute human urine (or cow's urine, though many rural farmers do not have cows) and spray it on crops as an organic fertilizer (Peace Corps Mali, 2009). The collection and application method is described below.
Estimated cost for the entire process: US$1.85–3.06
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 innermost filled partly with water, and place it 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, then add urine up to the half-way mark
6. Let the jug sit for 2 days in order to kill any schistosomiasis (a disease caused by parasitic flatworms)
7. Fill the jug the rest of the way with water and mix together
Helpful illustrations of the collection method are available here: Link
*Women and children can use a bucket or cup 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 in 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 feces and urine, allowing the urine to be used as a fertilizer/insecticide on plants immediately, while the feces go through a composting and disinfection process.
Helpful resources for Ecosan:
- Ecosan toilet website: Link
- Constructing an Ecosan toilet: Link
- The "Skyloo" urine diversion toilet: Link
*When collecting urine, it is important to ensure 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. Applying it too early stunts growth, and applying it after 3 weeks will be ineffective.
2. Use 4 L of the mixture per square meter of crops.
3. Pour the mixture near the ground so as not to get it on the leaves; apply the mixture evenly.
4. Once the mixture has seeped into the ground (which should take less than a minute), water it immediately 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, as the green leaves and urine have insecticidal properties at no extra cost. The method is likely restricted to South Asia, as the green leaves used 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 (mung bean), brinjal (eggplant) and bhendi (okra), among 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 with 100 L of cow urine
3. In a vessel, allow the mixture to ferment for 10–15 days until it develops a strong odour, stirring the solution daily with a wooden stick
4. Once fermentation is complete, filter the solution using a cotton cloth
5. Use 10 L of the solution to spray 1 acre of cropped land with 1.5-month-old crops
Picture Based Lesson to Train Farmers
South Asian version (pictures only, text for you to insert) — lesson 5.13
East/South Asian version (pictures only, text for you to insert) — lesson 5.13
Sub-Saharan Africa/Caribbean version (pictures only, text for you to insert) — lesson 5.13
Latin America version (pictures only, text for you to insert) — lesson 5.13
North Africa and Middle East version (pictures only, text for you to insert) — lesson 4.12
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. Undiluted urine can be applied to the topsoil several weeks before planting to 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 the soil 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 urine is applied to poor, sandy soil, it will not convert properly and can stunt plant growth. In order to use urine effectively, the soil must be of good quality and humus-like (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 the soil is poor, young plants can be killed even with diluted urine (Morgan, 2004).
This process takes time: Whether one is soaking seeds or spraying crops, both processes take time. One must account for both soaking and drying time. With the use of any traditional or modern planters, seeds may stick together, so they must be re-dried during the soaking process. Most nutrients in urine must first be converted into plant-available food, meaning they are not available right away; time is therefore needed for the conversion process before spraying. Nitrogen, for example, must be converted from urea to ammonia, then to nitrate and eventually to nitrate salt. Pure nitrate is actually toxic to plants (Morgan, 2004).
Storing urine: Use plastic containers for storage, as metal containers will corrode. Keep the container well sealed during storage in order to prevent ammonia from escaping (Morgan, 2004).
Urine can be used as pest control during storage: Many rural farmers use wooden bins to store seeds, which can be easily penetrated by pests. To prevent this, an effective indigenous Indian method mixes cow dung, mud, mustard cake and carbon from an iron plate with cow urine to make a paste, which can be plastered on storage bins to act as a pest repellent (Mehta et al., 2009).
Adding plant matter to urine can balance nutrients: Plants can be added to urine, where they will ferment and change the nutrient balance (Morgan, 2004).
- Comfrey leaves (Symphytum) increase the proportion of potassium to nitrogen
- Banana peels are high in many nutrients, including phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulphur, and can therefore potentially adjust nutrient balance
References
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