Anthroponics: Application and effects on growth of parsley, rhipsalis, coriander, and basil fed with urine fertiliser

Urine has emerged as a promising nutrient-rich waste stream suitable for plant fertigation. Biological nitrification in a membrane bioreactor offers an effective method for producing liquid fertiliser from urine, extracting essential nutrients into a final product. Despite the increasing interest in hydroponics and urban horticulture, research exploring the efficacy of urine-derived fertilisers remains scarce. This study employed three growing systems, including nutrient film technique open channels in outdoor setup, pot-drench under glasshouse conditions, and deep-water culture (DWC) under laboratory conditions to investigate the efficiency of urine-derived fertiliser compared to commercial fertilisers. The results demonstrated comparable growth responses in parsley, rhipsalis, coriander, and basil, as demonstrated by the analysis of several parameters including biomass, stem numbers and length, and nutritional composition in shoots and roots. In conclusion, urine-derived fertilisers showed promising potential as a sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilisers, laying the foundation for the development of a circular economy of nutrients in agriculture.