TESTING THE EFFICACY OF THE UTILIZATION OF HUMAN URINE AS A FERTILIZER AND AN ECO-SANITATION APPROACH IN IBADAN, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Human urine is a potential source of fertilizer, which is more environment-friendly than chemical fertilizers. The unsanitary disposal of urine poses a serious public health hazard. Little is known about the harnessing of human urine as an eco-sanitation approach and its utilisation as a fertilizer in Nigeria. This study, therefore, determined the fertizing effect of human urine on lemongrass, a common economic crop that drives well in most parts of Nigeria compare with the use of inorganic fertilizer, compost and a control. The experimental study was conducted under green house condition. Lemongrass was grown with three treatment media-inorganic fertilizer, urine and compost made from city refuse. Lemon grass grown on ordinary soil was used as control. Each treatment was carried out by mixing 12.5g of organic manure (5 tonnes/Ha) with 5kg of soil. Furthermore, 0.25g of NPK (100kg/Ha) was mixed with 5k of soil while 125mls of urine was mixed with 5kg of soil, which was applied at the rate of 3600 litres/Ha. The experiment was conducted in two sets and each treatment was carried out in triplicates. In the first set, urine was applied once and in the second set it was applied repeatedly once in a week for a period of 9-weeks. The growth parameters which included number of leaves, number of stolons and height of the plant in centimeters were monitored and determined for 18 weeks. Hydro-distillation method was used to extract essential oil from one kilogram of lemongrass collected from each treatment. The total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were determined from samples of lemongrass, including soil samples from each treatment using standard laboratory methods. The results were analysed using ANOVA and descriptive statistics. The mean number of leaves grown by lemongrass treatment with urine, inorganic fertilizer, compost and the control soil were 31.0±22.1, 30.7±19.1, 17.8±12.7, 14.6±13.3 respectively (p<0.05). The mean number of stolons of the lemongrass treated with urine, inorganic fertilizer, compost and the control soil were 4.9±3.8, 4.1±2.4, 2.7±1.7, 2.1±1.7 respectively (p<0.05). The mean height(cm) of the lemongrass treated with urine, inorganic fertilizer, compost and the control were 71.6±13.8, 80.09±23.8, 93.3±16.2 and 63.9±23.8 respectively (p<0.05). The weight (g) of essential oil extracted from one kilogram of lemongrass treated with urine, inorganic fertilizer, compost and the control soil were 7.6, 7.8, 7.5 and 6.6 respectively. The first set of the experiments compared with the second set, showed a mean difference of 1.8 in number of leaves, 0.4 in number of stolons and 10.3 in height (p>0.05). The fertilizing effect of urine compared favourably with inorganic fertilizer and compost in terms of its positive effects on the growth of lemongrass and oil yield. The adoption of this approach which plays a dual role in promoting environmental sanitation and soil organic fertilisation should be innovated through health education, advocacy and social-marketing strategies in Nigeria.