The document discusses a Ph.D. thesis by G. Sridevi on the impact of anthropogenic liquid waste (human urine) on soil properties and crop growth, supported by Arghyam Foundation. The study found that urine can effectively function as a fertilizer, improving crop growth when combined with gypsum, and presents various experiments on maize, banana, and radish plants to validate these findings. Finally, it emphasizes the potential economic benefits of using urine as a sustainable agricultural nutrient source.

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

2. Financial support for this thesis was provided
by Arghyam Foundation.
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.

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

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

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

8. EXPERIMENT DESIGN (Completely Randomized)
PHASE I
PHASE II
PHASE III
Protocol Development
ALW
+
• Incubation studies
Application of ALW
ALW
ALW
ALW
Hypothesis
+
+
+
• Lab Analysis
Lab study
T1 —
T2 —
T3 —
T4 —
T5 —
T1—
T2 —
T3 —
T4 —
T5 —
T6 —
T7 —
T8 —
Effect of ALW on soil studied by
treating soil with various dilutions of
ALW and water (T 1,T 2…T 5)
Data interpretation
&
Statistical analysis
Field study
Effect of ALW on maize and banana
crop studied separately by treating the
crops with various dilutions of ALW,
water, urea, gypsum & fertilizer
separately (T 1,T 2…T8)
Plot size: Gross- 7.2 m2
Net- 3.24 m2
F
RDN supplied by
ALW treatment of soil
G
in splits
G
ALW
in splits
Water
U
U
U
U
U
U
F
G
Potted plant study
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.
Test Observe
Fertilizer
G
Gypsum
U
Urea
RDN
Recommended
dose of
nitrogen
Inference

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

10. Hypothesis
ALW EFFECT ON MAIZE
MICRO
NUTRIENTS
EFFECT ON COB
SIZE
ALW in 6 split irrigations +
gypsum(T6)
50
Zinc
Nitrogen
MACRO
NUTRIENTS
ALW(T3)
43.36
40
35.58
30.55
30
Fertilizer(T2)
25.66
Test
20
10
Control(T1)
0
2
0
2.2
20
40
60
80
Control(T1)
Fertilizer(T2)
ALW(T3)
ALW in 6 split
irrigations +
gypsum(T6)
ALW in 6 split irrigations +
gypsum(T6)
ALW(T3)
Fertilizer(T2)
Iron
Phosphorus
1.8
CULTIVATION
ECONOMICS (C:B)
Control(T1)
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0
50
Observe
100
ALW in 6 split
irrigations + …
ALW in 6 split irrigations +
gypsum(T6)
ALW(T3)
Fertilizer(T2)
Fertilizer(T2)
Copper
Potassium
ALW(T3)
Control(T1)
1.2
1.4
1.6
Control(T1)
0
10
20
30
0%
20%
40%
Cost
•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
60%
80%
100%
Benefit
Inference

11. Hypothesis
ALW EFFECT ON BANANA
MICRO
NUTRIENTS
EFFECT ON
YIELD/HA
ALW in 8 split irrigations +
gypsum(T6)
35
ALW(T3)
24.92
25
20
Fertilizer(T2)
19.93
Test
15
10
Control(T1)
5
0
0.5
1
1.5
0
2
0
10
20
30
Control(T1)
40
Fertilizer(T2)
ALW(T3)
ALW in 8 split irrigations +
gypsum(T6)
ALW in 6 split
irrigations +
gypsum(T6)
ALW(T3)
Fertilizer(T2)
Iron
Phosphorus
30
28.41
30
Zinc
Nitrogen
MACRO
NUTRIENTS
Control(T1)
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0
100
200
300
400
CULTIVATION
ECONOMICS (C:B)
Observe
ALW in 6 split
irrigations …
ALW in 8 split irrigations +
gypsum(T6)
ALW(T3)
Fertilizer(T2)
Fertilizer(T2)
Copper
Potassium
ALW(T3)
Control(T1)
0
1
2
•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
Control(T1)
0%
0
10
20
30
40
20%
40%
Cost
60%
80%
100%
Benefit
Inference

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

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