The team carried out further tests on filtered, and filtered and heat treated, aged urine, finding these measures removed components of the urine that are important in reducing the ability for the plasmid DNA to be transferred to the soil bacteria. The team say that suggests either bacteria within the urine itself, or enzymes in the aged urine, are responsible for decreasing the ability for the plasmid DNA to be shared with the soil bacteria.
The team conclude that, provided urine is aged — as is the case in most systems designed to collect urine for fertiliser — it is unlikely to spread antibiotic resistance if used on crops. The study has limitations, including that it only looked at plasmid DNA and only examined the spread to one type of bacteria. This article is more than 1 year old.
As a result, repeatedly hosing down your yard from the front porch is likely to be counterproductive. Suppose, however, that one were able to administer one's renal output widely and evenly, perhaps by affixing a deluxe showerhead to the relevant anatomy and spinning on a lazy Susan?
Professor Duckworth offers a safer, more practical solution: "Let's say for the sake of argument you peed in a watering can and used it to disperse it. I don't think you would do any damage to your lawn. Weil, for his part, seconds the watering-can suggestion, and goes one better.
There are many ways to cheat this but the simplest is to put one part urine in a watering can and then two parts water, stir it up, and sprinkle it on the lawn. Greater dilution — or more — is appropriate for more tender plants, seedlings and potted plants which are more susceptible to salt build up. Keep in mind that areas with a lot of rain Seattle! I would not personally worry too much about the variable pH of urine for garden use. In a healthy person, urine is sterile.
In someone with decent hygiene and wiping technique, it should more-or-less stay that way as it leaves the body. Cross contamination with fecal matter health risk! Most gardeners, after all, are pleased as punch to get ahold of a big load of cow poop for their garden, and that fertilizer has a far greater chance of spreading harmful pathogens than pee.
Using so much water per flush unnecessarily increases the volume of our waste and the cost of its transportation and treatment, ecologists say…. The process also leaves a huge carbon footprint. Basically, the environmental and financial cost to piss in a bunch of drinking-quality water and then process it back into drinking water is huge.
Separating urine from solid waste — through direct pee-cycling or urine-separating toilets — could go a long way to offset this cost by reducing the burden on wastewater treatment programs. Now consider the cost of your pee. You will never find a more easy-to-acquire, cheaper source of fast acting nitrogen.
Basic courtesy is to not apply urine to those parts of the plant that will be consumed i. But how do you pee in the garden in the most effective way and without getting arrested for indecent exposure in the process!
Compost Accelerator Is your compost pile cold? Be sure to only use wood ashes from untreated wood hardwoods' ashes have the most potassium , avoid burning large amounts of glossy paper, and never, ever use coal ashes.
Urine contains significant levels of salt, which can build up in the soil in containers or even in garden beds when the climate is dry, injuring plants.
Salt damage can show up as scorched-looking leaves; wilting, even when soil is moist; and stunted growth. There may even be a whitish crust on the surface of the soil.
You can reduce salt buildup by watering generously enough so that water runs out of the bottom of the pot after the soil is completely saturated at least once a week.
In Europe, where a lot of research is focusing on closing the nutrient cycle and decreasing environmental costs, you can purchase a standard-looking toilet that has a urine diversion bowl, which makes the entire collection process hands-off. In some areas, you can even contract with a service to come and empty the tank periodically and deliver your accumulated urine to an appreciative farmer.
While less of that is going on in the U. And if you live near Burlington, Vermont, the Rich Earth Institute is actively researching the collection and use of urine as a fertilizer and is looking for donations. The Institute's website offers good advice on collecting urine in general. Fans of bathroom poetry I must confess I am one will recognize the ditty, "If it's yellow, let it mellow," to which I say, let's change it to: "If it's yellow, grow a tomato!
This article was originally published on Rodale's Organic Life. Secrets To Growing Plump Tomatoes. Never Plant Butterfly Bush Again. News U. Politics Joe Biden Congress Extremism. Special Projects Highline.
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