This Ph.D thesis studied the effect of applying human urine (referred to as anthropogenic liquid waste or ALW) on soil properties, crop growth of maize and banana, and plant growth of radish. Pot experiments and field studies showed that ALW, when applied alone or in combination with gypsum, improved soil parameters like pH, organic carbon and nutrient levels. Crops grown with ALW treatments had higher nutrient content and yields comparable or higher than recommended chemical fertilizers. The data suggests that ALW can be a viable, low-cost nutrient source for agriculture.

1. Scientific studies on Human Urine
Bottle it up! We can use it!

2. This is a visual representation of Ph.D thesis Studies on the effect of anthropogenic
liquid waste (ALW) on soil properties and crop growth by G.Sridevi (PAK 5072). The
research was conducted at Department of Soil Science and Agriculture
Chemistry, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore and submitted in October
2008.
Financial support for this thesis was provided by Arghyam Foundation.

3. ALW = Anthropogenic Liquid Waste = Human Urine

4. scientific method
a method of procedure that has characterized natural science
since the 17th century, consisting in systematic
observation, measurement, and experiment, and the
formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
- Oxford Dictionary

5. Hypothesis Test Observe Inference
Application of ALW*
as a nutrient source
has a positive
impact on soil
properties and crop
growth.
Tested on •Changes in soil
parameters with
varying ALW
concentrations.
•Comparative study of
maize & banana crop
growth with varying
treatment with
fertilizer , ALW &
different ALW
combinations.
•Pot experiment with
radish plants.
A combination of
ALW + gypsum
gives crop growth
results at par
(partially higher)
with recommended
dose of fertilizer.
SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN THIS STUDY
*ALW - Anthropogenic Liquid Waste (Urine)

6. **REQUIRED
1 Billion
N
K
PP
N
ALW IN NUMBERS
1.37 liters/day 500 liters /year
kg
kg
kg
million tons
million tons
million tonsK
generatedinayear
*WASTED
million tons
million tons
million tons
NPK consumption in
Agriculture in India
N-Nitrogen | P- Phosphorus | K-Potassium
ALW

7. 12th Century
CHINA
Recycled ALW for
farming
12th Century
JAPAN
Recycled ALW for
farming
18th Century
NEPAL
ALW used for
growing fodder crops
2003
INDIA
ALW used as fertilizer
for potatoes and
chillies in Manipur
1990s
SOUTH AFRICA
Compost latrines
and ALW diverting
system introduced
2003
NETHERLANDS
ALW integrated
Ecosan projects
INSTANCES OF ALW USAGE

8. EXPERIMENT DESIGN (Completely Randomized)
Protocol Development
PHASE I PHASE II
Application of ALW
ALW treatment of soil
• Incubation studies • Lab Analysis
+ALW
+ALW
+ALW
+ALW
Hypothesis Test Observe Inference
F
G
U
ALW
Water
Fertilizer
Gypsum
Urea
T1 —
T2 —
T3 —
T4 —
T5 —
T1—
T2 —
T3 —
T4 —
T5 —
T6 —
T7 —
T8 —
F
G
in splits
G in splits
U U U
U U U G
RDN
G
Recommended
dose of
nitrogen
RDNsuppliedby
Effect of ALW on soil studied by
treating soil with various dilutions of
ALW and water (T1,T2…T5)
Effect of ALW on maize and banana
crop studied separately by treating the
crops with various dilutions of
ALW, water, urea, gypsum & fertilizer
separately (T1,T2…T8)
Plot size: Gross- 7.2 m2
Net- 3.24 m2
Effect of ALW studied in potted radish plants alone. Only nitrogen (N) supplied
as nutrient source through ALW(dosage based on RDN). Doses given in
combination of dilution and splits.
Lab study
Field study
Potted plant study
PHASE III
Data interpretation
&
Statistical analysis

9. 0 2 4 6 8
Tap water(T1)
ALW(T2)
1 ALW :1 Water(T3)
1 ALW :2 Water(T4)
1 ALW: 3 Water(T5)
0 0.5 1 1.5 2
Tap water(T1)
ALW(T2)
1 ALW :1 Water(T3)
1 ALW :2 Water(T4)
1 ALW: 3 Water(T5)
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
Tap water(T1)
ALW(T2)
1 ALW :1 Water(T3)
1 ALW :2 Water(T4)
1 ALW: 3 Water(T5)
pHElectricalConductivityOrganicCarbonContent
0 50 100 150
0 5 10 15 20
0 200 400 600
0 10 20 30
0 20 40 60
0 1 2 3
NitrogenPhosphorusPotassium
ZincIronCopper
SOIL
CHARACTERISTICS
MACRO
NUTRIENTS
MICRO
NUTRIENTS
ALW EFFECT ON SOIL
Hypothesis
Test
Observe
Inference
•Mean value of each parameter is plotted against dilutions T1- T5
•Macro nutrients expressed in percentage.
•Micro nutrients expressed in mg/Kg

10. Hypothesis
Test
Observe
Inference
ALW EFFECT ON MAIZE
MACRO
NUTRIENTS
MICRO
NUTRIENTS
NitrogenPhosphorusPotassium
1.8 2 2.2
Control(T1)
Fertilizer(T2)
ALW(T3)
ALW in 6 split irrigations +
gypsum(T6)
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Control(T1)
Fertilizer(T2)
ALW(T3)
ALW in 6 split irrigations +
gypsum(T6)
1.2 1.4 1.6
Control(T1)
Fertilizer(T2)
ALW(T3)
ALW in 6 split irrigations +
gypsum(T6)
0 20 40 60 80
0 50 100
0 10 20 30
ZincIronCopper
EFFECT ON COB
SIZE
25.66
35.58
30.55
43.36
0
10
20
30
40
50
Control(T1) Fertilizer(T2) ALW(T3) ALW in 6 split
irrigations +
gypsum(T6)
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Control(T1)
Fertilizer(T2)
ALW(T3)
ALW in 6 split
irrigations…
Cost Benefit
CULTIVATION
ECONOMICS (C:B)
•Mean value of each parameter is plotted against dilutions T1,T2,T3 &T6
•Macro nutrients expressed in percentage of maize grain
•Micro nutrients expressed in mg/Kg

11. ALW EFFECT ON BANANA
NitrogenPhosphorusPotassium
ZincIronCopper
Hypothesis
Test
Observe
Inference
EFFECT ON
YIELD/HA
CULTIVATION
ECONOMICS (C:B)
19.93
28.41
24.92
30
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Control(T1) Fertilizer(T2) ALW(T3) ALW in 6 split
irrigations +
gypsum(T6)
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Control(T1)
Fertilizer(T2
)
ALW(T3)
ALW in 6
split…
Cost Benefit
•Mean value of each parameter is plotted against dilutions T1,T2,T3 &T6
•Macro nutrients expressed in percentage of banana fruit
•Micro nutrients expressed in mg/Kg
0 0.5 1 1.5 2
Control(T1)
Fertilizer(T2)
ALW(T3)
ALW in 8 split irrigations +
gypsum(T6)
0 0.2 0.4 0.6
Control(T1)
Fertilizer(T2)
ALW(T3)
ALW in 8 split irrigations
+ gypsum(T6)
0 1 2
Control(T1)
Fertilizer(T2)
ALW(T3)
ALW in 8 split irrigations +
gypsum(T6)
0 10 20 30 40
0 100 200 300 400
0 10 20 30 40
MACRO
NUTRIENTS
MICRO
NUTRIENTS

12. ALW EFFECT ON RADISH
Hypothesis
Test
Observe
Inference
22.67
30.51 31.51 30.29 31.12
28.97 29.73
26.23 26.33
31.28 32.34
34.92 35.02
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
59.73
126
125.28 118.5 120.99
111.27
111.93
86.58
97.95
130.23
142.65
142.83 153.84
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
Effect on Plant
Height (in cm)
Effect on Root
Yield (g/ plant)

13. Hypothesis
Test
Observe
Inference
INFERENCE
in splitsG
on
1. Shows healthier crop
growth
2. Builds higher nutrient
content and mass in
the grain/fruit/root of
the respective crops.
3. Cost- Benefit ratio
marginally better than
chemical fertilizer
What does the data suggest?
ALW
8 splits6 splits