Within the context of biofertilizers nobody mentioned the use of human feces for regenerating the fertility of cultivated soils. My friend Joseph Jenkins wrote the book: The Humanure Handbook. A guide to composting human manure in the mid-1990s. I have the 1999 (2nd. Ed.) of this book and I know that his manuscript has been translated also in different languages and become very popular in countries lacking the typical infrastructure to dispose properly of human waste. However, human feces have been used in crop production and in many parts of the world their are still a viable form of fertilization. What is the evidence in favor, or against the use of human feces in agriculture?
It could be a promising alternative but its a long way to go before it is accepted as a standard practice in raising any crop. There is still lots of social myths associated with usage of human faeces in crop raising...
Dear Bruno Sir,
Please also have a look at these PDF attachments.
Good luck!
If the sewer is not used for industrial waste, the main concern, aside from societal norms, is microbial contamination. Consequently use is confined in most developed countries to non edible cops such as cotton. However, composting, e.g., with urban green waste, provided that there is good control (documented), and the whole heap temperature exceeds 60 degrees C, produces a product that (in Australia) is used for crops without direct soil contact, e.g. maize, wheat. Sewage is a major nutrient source that should be recycled.
Human faeces are important sources of organic fertilizers in many countries due to the fact that it contains many food items useful to humans, in addition to being available and cheap and helps in the elimination of environmental pollution. The following file may be useful in this regard
there is a company here in NSW (Australia) that produces compost from human waste and mulched tree debris (mainly from storm damage). they also produce a lime enriched product called 'black lime'. we've used it on our pastures with great results.
Back in 2000 I did my MSc project on a farm in the outskirts of the City of Bulawayo that had been using sludge for many years. The sludge was used to fertilise maize and wheat for grain production. I identified major issues with the accummulation of heavy metals (abstract attached). I also found the second attached article on other aspects of the same city in this link http://www.ruaf.org/
Thank you Bongani and everyone else who answered and shared valuable references about this "challenging" topic. When thinking about developing a resilient and regenerative agriculture I believe that properly composted human waste becomes a valuable resource. Imagine what positive changes could be enhanced in the urban environment (especially), where the idea of growing food in the city is beginning to become of interest, on a global scale! I would love to hear from Cuban researchers as by necessity since the mid 1990s Cuban cities started to show the world how to grow food in their urban environments with creativity and success. Thanks again to you all.
it is a important sources of organic fertilizer, but people should accept it which i think is not possible
I agree with you Bruno, on the potential to grow food in the cities using such 'free' resources. Of course the big question is how to deal with 'emerging contaminants' such as hormones and medical drugs. I was young and naive when I was doing my MSc, lookin back I could have pursued the subject area. Thanks for raising the question, I am looking forward to more contributions.
The contamination of soil and water affects human health yet, as agriculture strives to design and bring to market new synthetic molecules that intoxicate the soil/water eventually, debilitating health that like in a treadmill relies more and more in pharmaceutical products, and the cycle goes on. That is why I would like to learn more about this and related topics from our Cuban colleagues out there.
Sewage sludge is a promising source for sustainable agriculture. However, its application must to be subject to strict standards. It concerns the control of biological contaminants (pathogenic and parasitic) and chemical contaminants (heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), present initially in the sludge.
To make this material hygienic, biological processes are adapted namely:
- Vermicomposting (extraction of heavy metals);
- Co-composting with green waste;
- Composting with application of microbial consortia capable of degrading hydrocarbons, accumulate heavy metals and eliminate germs pathogens.
Human waste is doubtless the very last natural material an enthusiastic gardener and ecologist will dream up putting to use as compost. Animal feces from pigs, cows, dogs and even elephants (if you have one in your backyard), no problem, but human feces is just too revolting, sychologically speaking. If you do decide to create humanure for usage in your garden, at that time you must make sure that the compost itself has good qualities to it. Otherwise, you will be defeating the purpose of the compost pit, not to mention that redolent air and harmful organisms can reproduce from it. Most of faeces are, by dry weight, bacteria (30%), undigested food and fiber (30%), fat (10%-20%), inorganic matter( 10-20%), other protein(2-3%).
Please have a look at Guidelines for the Safe Use of Urine and Faeces in Ecological Sanitation Systems..PDF enclosed
We are late adopters of the "Joseph Jenkins" method in leafy Surrey (UK).
We are long term composters and recently lost our vital local supply of free horse manure - but looked in the mirror to find an alternative large mammal that could replace it. We can not address the efficacy question, as we will not see the results for a couple of years yet, but were powerfully impacted by the water saving.
We are no longer excreting in our drinking water and throwing it "away" as contaminated waste! The undeveloped world can not afford to adopt this crazy waste of drinking water and contamination of an otherwise useful resource!
There are useful background papers here:
https://www.jenkinspublishing.com/messages/messages/1366/2167.html?1460557973
and a more general introduction:
http://www.ecosanres.org/pdf_files/ESR_Publications_2004/ESR2web.pdf
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