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E cological sanitation
Ecological sanitation (ecosan) is
aimed at safely closing the nutri-
ent and water cycles. Nutrients from
human excreta should be returned to
the soil to fertilize crops. Safe proc-
essing of the urine and faeces into
fertilizer is described in EcoSanRes
Fact Sheet 5. Keeping urine and fae-
ces separated at the source simpli-
fies safe processing and handling of
excreta.
* Based on Jönsson, H. et al. 2004. Guidelines on the Use of Urine and Faeces in Crop Production. EcoSanRes Publication Series.
Report 2004-2. Stockholm Environment Institute; Stockholm, Sweden. Available from www.ecosanres.org
Estimated excretion of nutrients per
capita in different countries
(from Jönsson & Vinnerås, 2004)
Nitrogen
kg/cap, Phosphorus
Country yr kg/cap, yr
total 4.0 0.6
China urine 3.5 0.4
faeces 0.5 0.2
total 2.1 0.3
Haiti urine 1.9 0.2
faeces 0.3 0.1
Figure 3: Urine-application on a large scale (SLU, Sweden) total 2.7 0.4
India urine 2.3 0.3
If available, local recommendations the planned plants to capitalize faeces 0.3 0.1
for commercial mineral fertilizers, on this valuable asset. total 3.4 0.5
urea or ammonium, can be trans- South
urine 3.0 0.3
lated to the use of urine. The nitro- Application rates for fae- Africa
faeces 0.4 0.2
gen (N) concentration of urine ces
should be analysed. Otherwise it can The application rate of faeces can total 2.5 0.4
be estimated at 3-7 g N per litre. If be based on local recommenda- Uganda urine 2.2 0.3
no local recommendations can be tions for the use of phosphorus- faeces 0.3 0.1
obtained, a general rule of thumb is based fertilizers and analysis of the times, and there is considerable un-
to apply the urine produced by one phosphorus content of the faecal documented knowledge based upon
person during one day (24 hours) to product. This gives a rather low ap- practise.
one square metre of land per grow- plication rate, and the improvement More information would be useful,
ing season (crop). The urine from of the crop due to the added organic especially in the following areas:
one person will thus be enough to matter is hard to distinguish. How- • nutrient effects of excreta on
fertilize 300-400 m2 of crop per year ever, faeces are often applied at crops and soil;
and even up to 600 m2, if dosed to much higher rates, at which the • application techniques;
replace the phosphorus removed by structure and water-holding capacity • efficiency of storage of urine in
the crop. of the soil are also visibly improved. soil; and
Organic matter and ash are often • simple and resource-efficient sani-
For most crops, the maximum appli- added to the faeces during collection tation techniques for faeces.
cation rate before risking toxic ef- and processing. These additions will
fects is at least four times the dose improve the buffering capacity and References
above. the pH of the soil, which is especially Jönsson, H., Richert Stintzing, A., Vin-
important on soils with low pH. nerås, B. and Salomon, E. 2004.
Fertilizing with faeces Guidelines on the Use of Urine and
Faeces in Crop Production. EcoSanRes
The total amount of nutrients ex- The average person produces around Publication Series. Report 2004-2.
creted with faeces is lower than with 50 litres of faeces each year. This Stockholm Environment Institute:
urine, and the nutrients are not as amount of faeces will fertilize 1.5 – Stockholm, Sweden. Available from
easily accessible for plants. However, 3.0 m2 of crop if the application is www.ecosanres.org
faeces are concentrated and rich in made according to organic content. Jönsson, H. and Vinnerås, B. 2004.
phosphorus, potassium and organic If application is instead based on Adapting the nutrient content of urine
matter. phosphorus content, it will be and faeces in different countries using
Sanitized faeces should be applied FAO and Swedish data. In: Ecosan –
enough to fertilize 200-300 m2.
Closing the loop. Proc. 2nd Intern.
prior to planting or sowing as the
Symp. Ecological Sanitation, April
high phosphorus content is beneficial Local adaptations and knowl- 2003, Lübeck, Germany. p 623-626.
for root formation of young plants. edge gaps (www2.gtz.de/ecosan/
The faecal matter should be within These guidelines should be adapted download/ecosan-Symposium-
reach of the plant roots but it should to local conditions. Agricultural sys- Luebeck-session-f.pdf)
not be the only growing medium. Schönning, C. and Stenström, T.A. 2004.
tems vary, as does human behaviour
The faeces should be thoroughly Guidelines for the Safe Use of Urine
in different cultures. There is a lack and Faeces in Ecological Sanitation
mixed in and covered by soil before of documented research in the area Systems. EcoSanRes Publication Se-
cultivation starts. If there is a limited of using urine and faeces as fertilizer. ries. Report 2004-1. Stockholm Envi-
amount of faeces fertilizer, it can be However, these products have been ronment Institute: Stockholm, Swe-
applied in holes or furrows close to used in agriculture since ancient den.
www.ecosanres.org
Stockholm Environment Institute
Kräftriket 2B, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
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