Exploring the Potential for Recycling Nutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity Jörn +49 (0) Joachim (0) University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Institute for Plant Production and Agroecology in the Tropics and Subtropics, Garbenstr. 13, Stuttgart, Germany The Example of Valley View University (VVU) in Accra, Ghana Tropentag, Bonn, October 2006 Recycling Nutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity — Valley View University in Accra, Ghana / Germer, J. & Sauerborn, J.

Is recycling nutrients from sanitary waste an option? Nutrient content & nutrient efficiency Hygienic safety Acceptability  Urine application sorghum trial Recycling Nutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity — Valley View University in Accra, Ghana / Germer, J. & Sauerborn, J.

Growth of cereal production in different developing regions  Data from FAOstat Recycling Nutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity — Valley View University in Accra, Ghana / Germer, J. & Sauerborn, J.

Nutrient depletion in Sub-Saharan Africa  Summary of 11 literature datasets on cereal production in different countries Recycling Nutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity — Valley View University in Accra, Ghana / Germer, J. & Sauerborn, J.

Magnitude of annual human nutrient excretion in Ghana Per capita: ≈2.8 kg N, ≈ 0.4 kg P, ≈ 1.2 kg K Nationwide: ≈60,000 t N, ≈ 8,500 t P, ≈ 25,600 t K  Heavily polluted creek (Nsawam - Ghana) Recycling Nutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity — Valley View University in Accra, Ghana / Germer, J. & Sauerborn, J.

Valley View University New campus is under construction Planned capacity 5,000 students (now 1,000)  VVU is located in the costal dry savanna zone – the country’s driest zone (PET ≈ 1,600 mm) Recycling Nutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity — Valley View University in Accra, Ghana / Germer, J. & Sauerborn, J.

Agricultural production units at VVU Urine Fecal compost Sanitary grey water Kitchen grey water Fruit orchards Vegetable gardens Tree plantations Rain fed farming Recycling Nutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity — Valley View University in Accra, Ghana / Germer, J. & Sauerborn, J.

Nutrient efficiency – urine vs. min. fertilisers and manure (2004) Maize Very low precipitation Distinct difference of vegetative growth between treatments  Severe draught stress  Plant height development Recycling Nutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity — Valley View University in Accra, Ghana / Germer, J. & Sauerborn, J.

Nutrient content of human urine (dry urinals) g/l Source NPK Literature VVU  Sanitary block  Dry urinals Recycling Nutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity — Valley View University in Accra, Ghana / Germer, J. & Sauerborn, J.

Potential causes for low urine nutrient concentration Quality and Quantity of food intake (N, P, K) Struvite and carbonate-apatite formation (N, P) Volatilisation (N)  Tanks for storage and pathogen load reduction Recycling Nutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity — Valley View University in Accra, Ghana / Germer, J. & Sauerborn, J.

Nutrient efficiency – urine vs. min. fertilisers and manure (2005) Maize Low precipitation Significant difference in grain yield between treatments  Maize trial  Grain yield Recycling Nutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity — Valley View University in Accra, Ghana / Germer, J. & Sauerborn, J.

Nutrient efficiency – urine vs. min. fertilisers, manure and compost (2006) Sorghum Precipitation satisfactory Significant difference in grain yield between treatments  Sorghum trial  Grain yield Recycling Nutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity — Valley View University in Accra, Ghana / Germer, J. & Sauerborn, J.

Hygiene monitoring Considerable pathogen loads in all sanitary wastes Storage deactivates E.coli, Salmonella spp., Enterococci and C. perfringens in urine Recycling Nutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity — Valley View University in Accra, Ghana / Germer, J. & Sauerborn, J.

Acceptability Workers at VVU easily adopt urine collection and fertilisation Questionnaire investigation discovered no fundamental objections based on religion, culture or health considerations Common awareness that current sanitation practise is suboptimal NGOs request technology transfer  Farmer interview Recycling Nutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity — Valley View University in Accra, Ghana / Germer, J. & Sauerborn, J.

Conclusion Crops perform equally well, whether nutrients are supplied by human urine or alternative sources Pathogen load present in urine can be reduced through storage Acceptance is good Recycling Nutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity — Valley View University in Accra, Ghana / Germer, J. & Sauerborn, J.

Thank you! Detailed information available at: Project Booklet: Recycling Nutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity — Valley View University in Accra, Ghana / Germer, J. & Sauerborn, J.