Human Urine as the fertilizer.
Web Special: You fertilized with what?: Science News Online, Sept. 22, 2007
Web Special: You fertilized with what?: Science News Online, Sept. 22, 2007
Surendra K. Pradhan of the University of Kuopio and his colleagues grew cabbages using a conventional fertilizer, human urine that had been stored for 6 months, or no soil amendments at all. In an upcoming issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the researchers report that urine treatment yielded cabbages that were bigger and carried fewer germs than either other approach yielded.
Although the nutrient content of urine depends on what someone has eaten, analyses of the urine used in these experiments showed that its nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content was comparable to that of commercial fertilizer.
Sauerkraut made from cabbages cultivated in the three ways had slightly different flavors, according to taste panelists, but were equally well liked.