Over the course of seven weeks, tomato plants were grown using a control group watered with only water, a group watered with coffee grounds and water solutions, and a group watered with urine solutions. The tomato plants were measured weekly and data was compiled. The results showed that the tomato plants grown with coffee had significantly greater growth and produced larger fruits than both the control group and urine-watered group. While urine contains beneficial nutrients, the concentration applied was likely too high and killed the urine-watered plants. Further experimentation is needed adjusting urine concentrations and collecting data over a longer period.

1. How the effects of Coffee and Urine can Enhance Plant Growth as Fertilizers
Emil Borje ▪ Elizabeth Fagoaga ▪ Alexandra Garcia ▪ Mario Mena ▪ Brittanie Rodriguez
Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, California State University, Los Angeles, CA 90032
INTRODUCTION
ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE
The effects of Urine and Coffee will have a positive increase
in the development of the cherry tomato plants. The plants
watered by urine will have an increase in biomass than the
control.
CONCLUSION
FUTURE
EXPERIMENTS
REFERENCES
K, Kasongo R., Verdoodt A, Kanyankagote P, Baert G, and Ranst E. Van. "Coffee
Waste as an Alternative Fertilizer with Soil Improving Properties for
Sandy Soils in Humid Tropical Environments." Wiley Online Library. Soil
Use and Management, 23 Nov. 2010. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.
Kutu, Funso R., Pardon Muchaonyerwa, and Pearson NS Mnkeni. "Complementary
Nutrient Effects of Separately Collected Human Faeces and Urine on the
Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Spinach (Spinacia Oleracea)."
Complementary Nutrient Effects of Separately Collected Human Feaces
and Urine on the Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Spinach (Spinacia
Oleracea). SAGE Journals, 2 July 2010. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.
Mihelicic, James R., Lauren M. Fry, and Ryan Shaw. "Global Potential of
Phosphorus Recovery from Human Urine and Feces." Chemosphere.
Science Direct, Aug. 2011. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.
Mercola, Dr. "Gee Whiz: Human Urine Is Shown to Be an Effective Agricultural
Fertilizer."Mercola.com. Mercola.com Take Control of Your Health, 28
Sept. 2013. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.
Nelson, Jennifer Schultz. "Coffee as Fertilizer?" Plant Palette. University of Illinois
Extension, DeWitt, Macon & Piatt Counties, 9 Jan. 2011. Web. 21 Nov.
2013.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
t Urination is a natural method for our body to release
the components of what we put into it. What happens is the
kidneys extract soluble wastes, excess water, sugars, and a
variety of other compounds from the bloodstream and are
expelled out during urination. However, 95% of urine consists
of the three main macro-nutrients that are essential for plant
growth: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Nitrogen
promotes the growth of leaves and vegetation. Phosphorus
promotes root and shoot growth. Potassium regulates water
and nutrient movement in plant cells, promoting flowering
and fruiting. These three elements are commonly used in
fertilizers and are labeled based on their relative content as
NPK. For about a normal daily amount of 1-2 liters of urine,
its NPK value approximately consists of 11-1-2 with a high
concentration of nitrogen. Where 11 is the percentage by
weight of nitrogen, 1 is the percent of phosphorus, and 2 is
the percent of potassium. This is what makes urine an
excellent alternative for fertilizer, when it is diluted. When
undiluted urine is watered on plants, it can chemically burn
the roots due to its high concentration of nitrogen (74%). The
fertilization effect of urine is comparable to that of
commercial fertilizers with an equivalent NPK rating.
Coffee has been known to have many uses and
benefits. For many, coffee, is an ultimate favorite for the
average working person. Coffee has also been known to
have environmental uses because it can be used as a
fertilizer for plants. After you make a pot of coffee, the left
over grinds that usually everyone throws away can be useful
to grow plants. Plants need certain nutrients to grow and
have energy to bloom. The three main nutrients that plants
intake in ratios are phosphorous, potassium and nitrogen.
Plants can also have basic, neutral or acidic characteristics.
This means that some plants may like acidic conditions and
others may like basic conditions. Coffee is somewhat neutral
but slightly acidic. Coffee has a pH of 6.8. It makes it a
perfect nutrient to add in the soil. Tomato plants are slightly
acidic and adding coffee to this type of plant is perfect to help
it grow. Coffee has been known to be rich in nitrogen. When
a coffee composite is added to plants it gives it that extra
nutrients to grow. In summary, the available plant essential
elements which will be substantially improved where the
coffee grounds are used as a soil amendment, include
phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and copper. Therefore,
a very positive impact on improving availabilities of these
elements where the coffee grounds are used as a mineral
soil amendment
The use of coffee and urine as a fertilizer was
of interest. Using other methods of growing crops
may be beneficial in terms of efficiency in energy
and time. Over the course of seven weeks, tomato
plants were grown using a control group, coffee
grown plants and urine grown plants. The tomato
plants were measured every week and experimental
data was collected and compiled into graphs for
interpretation of growth progress. For our results, the
tomato plants have shown to grow and nourish very
well under coffee conditions. The urine did not show
any progress throughout the seven weeks. The urine
had a reverse effect on the plants and ultimately
killed off the plant entirely. The ratios of
concentration may also play a role in this
experiment, but further experimentation would have
to be done for a longer period of time. From this
procedure, we can validate that coffee had benefits
for plants to grow faster and bigger than under a
control group such as regular water intake.
At the end of our seven week research, results portrayed that coffee
had a significant progressive effect on the cherry red tomato plants,
compared to urine and water. During the last week of observation the
fruit developed a redness in color and its biomass was nearly double to
that of the control. Coffee contains essential macronutrients such as
nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium needed for plant growth.
Although urine contains these three nutrients as well, coffee obtained a
better success. Comparing the NPK values of urine and coffee, urine
contains a value of 11-1-2 versus coffee’s value of 2.08-0.32-0.28. We
found that when combining fertilizer with coffee, a near perfect mixture
was attained as the coffee enhanced the already abundant source of
nutrients found in the compost. Although we speculated that the blend
of fertilizer with urine would yield the best results, we actually
discovered there was such an excessive amount of nitrogen in the
plant which led to its decay. The reason is still questionable, due to the
fact that serial dilutions were not performed correctly.
John Harris allowing access to the garden.
- John gave us access to the garden behind the green
house. Provided pots for our plants.
Dr. Errol Mathias Biochemistry teaching lab.
- Allowed us to use the biochemistry teaching labs and
gave us glassware to make the dilutions.
Dr. Margaret Jefferson, Dr. Katrina Yamazaki and LSAMP for
Funding
- CSU-LSAMP is supported by the national science
foundation under grant# HRD-0802628 and the CSU
office of the chancellor.
Type The goal of this study was to find an alternative route to
common used fertilizers and substitute for a more organic and
biodegradable approach.
Future direction of research needs to focus on
eliminating the fertilizer, to allow the urine and coffee to take a
natural effect on the plants development. There should also be a
focus on the urine’s concentration, due to its high weight
percentage of nitrogen. Instead of having a 3:1 ratio, as depicted
in this experiment, it is more probable that a 10:1 ratio would
show favorable results. here
RESULTS
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
x here
As with any experiment, systematic and random errors occur inevitably as a result of internal and external factors.
Throughout the entire seven weeks of research, there were sudden changes in weather conditions, as one day the
plants were exposed to airy conditions and abruptly the next day they were exposed to a very humid climate. With
inconsistent weather patterns, all of the plants developed dried yellow leaves which depicted an unhealthy growth. This
affected the results, as it was unclear to what extent urine and coffee have on plant development. Along with conducting
the research in an external environment, other factors such as tomato worms played an affect as it damaged the growth
of the cherry tomatoes. At this point, a downward fall in the plants growth was noticed. Once fruits start to form, the
consistency of watering the plants needed to be changed from every day to twice a week. However, the group’s a lack
of knowledge of gardening allowed the plants to be over watered portraying a wilted structure. This gave inaccurate
results as the cherry tomato plants didn’t receive a healthy growth as it should have. All in all, one of the main sources
of error occurred in the preparation of the dilutions for both the urine as well as coffee. Serial dilutions were not
executed correctly resulting in improper concentrated dilutions of the substances. The plants in turn received a more
concentrated solution then what was planned for in the experiment. These systematic and random errors caused the
results of our experiment to be not entirely accurate.
y = 0.0857x + 2.3857
R² = 0.75
y = -0.2018x + 1.6679
R² = 0.5391
y = 0.0795x + 1.6071
R² = 0.3003
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Length
Weeks
Average Hypocotyl Growth (cm)
Control
Urine
Coffee
Linear
(Control)
Linear
(Urine)
Linear
(Coffee)
Plants A-G + Control
Urine
Week 1-7
Dilutions: Pure, 1:3, and 3:1
were made weekly.
Week 1-5
Watered daily with
appropriate solution.
Week 6 and 7
Watered 3 times a week with
appropriate solution.
Coffee
Week 1-7
*Dilutions: Pure, 1:1, 3:1, 1:3
were made weekly.
* Coffee grinds added every
so often.
Week 1-5
Watered daily with
appropriate solution.
Week 6 and 7
Watered 3 times a week with
appropriate solution.
Control
Week 1-7
Watered with water
Week 1-5
Watered daily with water.
Week 6 and 7
Watered 3 times a week.
Week 0
All plants were planted with
fertilizer.
Each plant are diluted at a fraction of 50mL of each
dilution, to a total of 200mL of dilutions per plant.
Control Dilution: Water (200mL in total)
2 sets of mixtures (200mL total per plant):
1.) Urine Dilutions:
a.) 3 Water: 1 Urine
b.) 2 Water: 2 Urine
c.) Non Diluted Urine, Pure Urine
2.) Coffee Dilutions :
d.) 3 Water: 1 Coffee
e.) 2 Water: 2 Coffee
f.) 1 Water: 3 Coffee
g.) Non Diluted Coffee, Pure Coffee
Eight plants are used , they are then mixed with
humus into the soil and a dilution is watered to each
of the plants. Each individual plant will be treated
with only one dilution. Synthetic urine is purchased
and used for this experiment from a company. The
objective is to see which dilution works best for plant
growth and if non-diluted samples work better than
diluted samples. One lab member is in charge of
measuring the stems of each plant, observing and
recording data, observing the color, the changes of
the plants, flowers blooming, and any other sources
of changes will be recorded. Another student was in
charge of watering the plants everyday to ensure that
each task is done exactly the same each time. A
chart is focused on day to day observations, and
every other day observations are dependent on the
plants.
y = 2.9607x + 30.146
R² = 0.7928
y = -3.253x + 29.561
R² = 0.5511
y = 3.1241x + 26.956
R² = 0.8572
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Heightcm
Weeks
Average Growth of the overall height of the plants (cm)
Control
Urine
Coffee
Linear (Control)
Linear (Urine)
Linear (Coffee)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Branches Fruits Flowers Buds
Length(cm)
Plant Anatomy
Anatomy Growth on the Plants over 7 week period
Control
Urine
Coffee
y = 0.1822x + 2.082
R² = 0.7736
y = -0.4271x + 2.843
R² = 0.875
y = 0.0408x + 2.6005
R² = 0.1496
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Internodelength
Weeks
Average growth of internode lengths (cm)
control
urine
coffee
Linear (control)
Linear (urine)
Linear (coffee)