Human excreta as a resource in agriculture – Evaluating the fertilizer potential of different composting and fermentation-derived products

Kelova, Mariya E.; Eich‐Greatorex, Susanne; Krogstad, Tore

doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105748

Cited by 17 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…This result indicates that the nutrient accumulation of pakchoi can be promoted by the application of llers. The TK content and TN content in plants were similar, and both were signi cantly higher than the TP content, consistent with the results of Kelova et al (2021). These results indicate a greater demand for nitrogen and potassium than phosphorus in pakchoi and are crucial elements required for plant growth.…”

Section: Nutrient Uptakesupporting

confidence: 87%

Influences of Different Ectopic Fermentation Bed Fillers of Human Excreta on the Soil Properties and Growth of Chinese Pakchoi

Zhu

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The reuse of human excreta as biofertilizer resources offers a new option for meeting the growing demand for food and addressing the scarcity of soil productivity. Feces and black water are two prevalent forms of human excreta, both of which contain potentially harmful substances and therefore need to be treated in an environmentally sound manner by appropriate means. Ectopic fermentation bed systems (EFSs) seem to be a new technique for effective human excreta management and the production of biofertilizers using decomposed fillers. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the nutrient content and fertilizer potential of decomposed fills after treatment of human feces and black water by an EFS under different application conditions. The results showed that the application of an appropriate proportion of fillers was beneficial to promote the growth of pakchoi, improve the yield and quality of pakchoi, and enhance soil fertility. The safe production requirements of agricultural products can be met as long as a reasonable filler application rate is maintained, with human feces fillers controlled within 5% and black water fillers controlled within 10%. The main factors affecting the yield and quality of pakchoi in this study were soil properties, especially soil EC. These findings help to better clarify the agronomic value of human excreta; however, the effects of long-term filler application need to be further explored.

show abstract

Section: Nutrient Uptakesupporting

confidence: 87%

Influences of Different Ectopic Fermentation Bed Fillers of Human Excreta on the Soil Properties and Growth of Chinese Pakchoi

Zhu

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In most cases, compost + NUF treatment increased yield and N uptake compared to compost alone, and yielded plant head and total biomass in quantities comparable to the control vinasse. Hence supplementing fecal composts with N min , e.g., via urine, can balance the N demand, as also concluded by Kelova et al (2021). Sangare et al (2015) tested different combinations of urine with fecal composts and determined that the optimal ratio for okra yield was 75% of N supplied by urine and 25% by compost.…”

Section: Fertilizer Value Of Recycling Productsmentioning

confidence: 78%

Recycling fertilizers from human excreta exhibit high nitrogen fertilizer value and result in low uptake of pharmaceutical compounds

Häfner

Diaz

Tietjen

et al. 2023

Front. Environ. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Recycling nutrients is essential for closing nutrient loops within a circular economy. Using locally available resources such as human excreta to produce bio-based recycling fertilizers can substitute mineral fertilizers and thereby promote environmentally friendly food production. To better understand the fertilizer potential and nitrogen value of human excreta, three novel and safe recycling products were evaluated in a field experiment. Two nitrified urine fertilizers (NUFs) and one fecal compost were applied alone or in combination, and compared against the commercial organic fertilizer vinasse. In addition, the uptake of pharmaceuticals was assessed for treatments with compost application. White cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. alba) was cultivated in plots in three different soil types (sand, loam or silt) treated with the fertilizers according to plant needs and mineral soil nitrogen content. The two NUFs resulted in marketable yields similar to those of vinasse in all soil types. Combining fecal compost with a NUF led to increased marketable yield compared to compost alone. The highest yield was recorded from the sandy soil, where vinasse and NUF treatments led to comparable yields, as expected in organic productions systems (up to 72 t ha−1). The cabbage yield and total aboveground fresh biomass followed the following trend in all soils: NUFs ∼ vinasse ≥ compost + NUF ≥ compost. Nitrogen uptake in the cabbage heads and total biomass was significantly higher in sand (69.5–144 kg ha−1) than loam (71.4–95.8 kg ha−1). All compost treatments alleviated the effect of soil type and resulted in comparable nitrogen uptake and yield in all soil types. Plant uptake of pharmaceuticals (Carbamazepin) was higher in sand than in loam, and concentration in the edible part was lower than in the outer leaves. In conclusion, NUF alone appears to be a promising successful fertilizer substitute in horticultural food production. The combined application of NUF and compost led to slightly lower crop yields, but may increase soil carbon content in the long term, promoting climate-friendly food production.

show abstract

“…−Soil: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), carbon (C), organic matter (OM), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), microbial respiration, fungi:bacteria, earthworm counts, bulk density, porosity, water holding capacity. form of the amendment and its treatment conditions and duration, 59 but some studies assume a single value for N i for simplicity (e.g., N i = 10% of N T in the case of Chirere et al 60 ). In addition to the N i contained within organic amendments, it is also hard to predict how much of the organic N becomes mineralized into N i during the course of the growing season, and different equations for this exist.…”

Section: Outcomementioning

confidence: 99%

A Systematic Review of the Effects of Fecal Sludge Derived Amendments on Crop Growth and Soil Health

Allen

Banwart

et al. 2023

ACS EST Eng.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The use of human excreta in agricultural settings has the potential to meet crop nutrient requirements and improve soil health, while also providing a sustainable end use for fecal material. Previous reviews have focused on sewage sludge biosolids from wastewater treatment plants, but with on-site sanitation systems overtaking sewers as the leading sanitation system worldwide, greater attention to fecal sludge is warranted. This systematic Review is the first to compile the results of crop trials which utilized fecal amendments from on-site sanitation systems and includes 47 experiments. Overall, fecal amendments increased crop growth compared to unamended control plots and also produced comparable yields to synthetic fertilizers. Biological and physical soil parameters were underrepresented in the literature, which made a holistic assessment of soil health impossible. However, some improvements in chemical characteristics were observed, most notably for soil organic carbon. Inconsistent experimental design made aggregation of results and detailed statistical analysis difficult, highlighting the need for a more standardized approach for testing the efficacy of amendments and reporting results. Regardless, this Review compiles our collective existing knowledge to provide tentative results for the effect of fecal amendments on crop growth and soil health and offers recommendations for future work.

show abstract

Human excreta as a resource in agriculture – Evaluating the fertilizer potential of different composting and fermentation-derived products

Cited by 17 publications

References 31 publications

Influences of Different Ectopic Fermentation Bed Fillers of Human Excreta on the Soil Properties and Growth of Chinese Pakchoi

Influences of Different Ectopic Fermentation Bed Fillers of Human Excreta on the Soil Properties and Growth of Chinese Pakchoi

Recycling fertilizers from human excreta exhibit high nitrogen fertilizer value and result in low uptake of pharmaceutical compounds

A Systematic Review of the Effects of Fecal Sludge Derived Amendments on Crop Growth and Soil Health

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About