The nutrient content in urine depends on the diet. That accounts for over 90% of what we are peeing. CHICAGO, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Recycled and aged human urine can be used as a fertilizer with low risks of transferring antibiotic resistant DNA to the environment, according to a study of the University of Michigan (UM). Bacteria from urinary tract infections often harbor antibiotic resistance. Urine can be turned into ammonia-based fertilizer in space thanks to newly invented process from scientists at Tokyo University. Previous research has shown that antibiotic-resistant DNA can be found in urine, raising the question of whether fertilizers derived from it might carry over that resistance. A way to turn urine into solid fertilizer that could make farming more sustainable. "That means that if bacteria in the collected urine are resistant to antibiotics and the bacteria die, as they do when they are stored in urine, the released DNA won't pose a risk of transferring resistance to bacteria in the environment when the fertilizer is applied.". It could enable manufacturing of fertilizers in a more environmentally friendly way, reduce the energy required to manage nutrients at wastewater treatment plants, and create localized fertilizer sources. Fertilizer produced in the lab will have a more consistent concentration. Get the latest science news with ScienceDaily's free email newsletters, updated daily and weekly. Unfortunately I didn't think of testing ammonia levels, but I did do an ammonia test on fresh urine (1:4 dilution in 5mL test kit) and found that the ammonia levels were literally off the charts for my testing kit. Formulating Fertilizers? "We are doing field experiments to assess technologies that process urine into a safe and sustainable fertilizer for food crops and other plants, like flowers. Sure you can. Sure you can. May 08, 2020. "Urine fertilizer: 'Aging' effectively protects against transfer of antibiotic resistance." Only when it is older than 24 hours, the urea turns into ammonia, which is what causes the distinctive smell. Massive Prehistoric Croc Emerges from South East Queensland, Territorial Red Squirrels Live Longer When They're Friendly With Their Neighbors, Mummified Baboons Shine New Light on the Lost Land of Punt, New Dinosaur Showed Descendants How to Dress to Impress. The research was funded by the National Science Foundation. It is a blood byproduct … You say Miracle-Gro, I say ... pee. Urine contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium -- key nutrients that plants need to grow. It’s a key finding in efforts to identify more sustainable alternatives to widely used fertilizers that contribute to water pollution. Their high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus can spur the growth of algae, which can threaten our sources of drinking water. This is an effective way to use fertility in a targeted way. Carbon-rich materials can include leaves, straw, or just good quality earthy soil. “Based on our results, we think that microorganisms in the urine break down the extracellular DNA in the urine very quickly,” said Krista Wigginton, a U-M associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, and corresponding author on a paper published today in Environmental Science and Technology. urine is not actually sterile, but it is safe to use as fertilizer in your garden. . The nutrient content in urine depends on the diet. | Medium Read, Removing and reusing phosphorus from agricultural runoff, Sensors for monitoring condition of 100-year-old Detroit water pipe, Simulating aerosolized particles to improve bus safety during COVID-19, ‘Peecycling’ payoff: Urine diversion shows multiple environmental benefits when used at city scale, New study is the first in-depth analysis of the environmental performance and benefits of large-scale urine recycling relative to conventional wastewater treatment and fertilizer production. Vegetable fertilizers like alfalfa meal or seaweed 8. Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences and Associate Professor of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering Carolyn Kuranz discusses a 10-year plan that includes the entire U.S. fusion community. urine must be mixed with carbon-rich materials in order for the nitrogen to become accessible to the plants. The researchers collected urine from m… Click here to view the original article. By using urine instead of chemical fertilizers you’re also doing a service to the environment and potentially protecting your health from any unwanted and unknown side effects of those chemicals. Recycled and aged human urine can serve as a fertilizer with low risks of spreading antibiotic-resistant DNA, according to new research. 00:00. Urine as fertilizer – applying it safely. When the ammonia kills the bacteria, they dump their DNA into the solution. It is also a way to improve Nutrient Use Efficiency by needing less fertilizer to get a crop out. The researchers collected urine from more than 100 men and women and stored it for 12 to 16 months. This article is included in the Fall 2020 issue of the CEE Review magazine. Urine as fertilizer: Statistically proven to increase yields. This has led to research on the practice of applying human urine as fertilizer. 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