Journal of the Selva Andina Biosphere (May 2015)

Use human urine as fertilizer in producing lettuce Waldmann green (Lactuca sativa L.)

  • Mamani-Mamani Virginia,
  • Loza-Murguia Manuel,
  • Coronel-Quispe Laoreano,
  • Sainz-Mendoza Humberto,
  • Paye-Huaranca Victor,
  • Coronel Felipe

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 1
pp. 24 – 38

Abstract

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The objective was to evaluate the response of growing lettuce, variety Waldmann Green, to the application of fermented human urine (HUF) at different times. Urine was obtained from ecological toilets in the 7th district of El Alto municipal- ity. These exudates, fermentation took during different times: 3, 6 and 12 months, in order to eliminate the possible presence of pathogens. The treatments were T-1, with no urine, T-2, three months of fermentation, T-3 six months of fermentations and T-4 twelve months of fermentation. The highest value obtained was 14.75 cm plant height, which corresponds to T-3 treatment and the control (T-1) reached 17.71 cm, plant height. The T-3 applied with six months of obtained a performance of 5.52 kg m-2. This result could be due to the high concentration of nitrogen that has human urine and the witness presented a performance of 3.04 kg m-2. Likewise, we realize product compositional analysis to evaluate the presence of potential pathogens and according to the results did not present infestation of pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. It is therefore suitable for human consumption without presenting health risk.

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