Urine-based fertigation model for tomato greenhouse cultivation
Sustainable fertigation solution using human urine as a nitrogen- and phosphorus-rich fertilizer for tomato greenhouses. Leverages urine's natural N-P-K ratio and fast-acting urea to reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers while recovering valuable nutrients from waste streams.
Overview
This research proposes using human urine as a fertigation (fertilizer + irrigation) input for tomato greenhouse production. Urine is naturally rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, with a typical N-P-K ratio of approximately 11-1-2.5, making it an excellent source of nitrogen with supporting levels of phosphorus and potassium. The urea component in urine is fast-acting, providing nutrients in a form that plants can immediately absorb. By diverting urine from waste streams into agricultural use, growers can reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers while recovering valuable nutrients. The approach also addresses concerns about antibiotic resistance, as prior research indicates that stored human urine is unlikely to spread resistant bacteria.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Utilizes human urine collected from chamber pots as the primary nutrient source
- Urine is aged and fermented prior to application to stabilize nutrients and reduce pathogen risk
- Dilution protocol of approximately 10 to 20 parts water to 1 part fresh urine for soil application
- Physiochemical processes and plant growth-promoting traits will be tested and validated
- N-P-K ratio of 11-1-2.5 delivers nitrogen-dominant nutrition suited to tomato growth
- Greenhouse-based system enabling controlled fertigation delivery
Technology readiness level
This proposal is at an early research stage, focused on validating the feasibility of urine-based fertigation in tomato greenhouse systems. Future validation plans include collecting urine from chamber pots, aging and fermenting the material, and conducting physiochemical and plant growth assays to confirm nutrient availability and crop response. Further greenhouse trials would be needed to establish agronomic performance, safety profiles, and scalable application protocols before commercial deployment.
About National Yang-Ming University
National Yang‑Ming University was a national, medical‑ and life‑sciences–focused public research university in Taipei with a strong clinical orientation. The Shipai campus sat adjacent to Taipei Veterans General Hospital, which served as its principal teaching hospital and enabled rapid clinical collaboration and translation. The university also operated an affiliated university hospital in Yilan, supporting multi‑site clinical research and training. Its research was backed by competitive national funding in Taiwan, notably from the National Science and Technology Council. Following its merger with National Chiao Tung University on February 1, 2021, these programs and hospital partnerships now operate within National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University’s Yangming campus, supported by dedicated industry–academia and technology transfer offices.
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