Evaluating the efficacy of human and cow urine as fertilizers on the growth of fenugreek, tomato, and okra plants

The increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices has intensified interest in alternative nutrient sources capable of reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. This study evaluated the fertilizer potential of human urine, cow urine, conventional NPK fertilizer, and a water-only control on the growth performance of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) under controlled greenhouse conditions. A randomized complete block design comprising four treatments and five biological replicates per crop was employed. Physicochemical characterization revealed that human urine contained higher nutrient concentrations (4550 mg L−1 N, 420 mg L−1 P and 1180 mg L−1 K) than cow urine. Growth parameters, including germination, plant height, leaf number, chlorophyll content, root length, fresh biomass, dry biomass, and plant health score, were monitored throughout the cultivation cycle. Results indicated that NPK fertilizer produced the highest overall performance; however, both urine-based fertilizers significantly outperformed the unfertilized control. Human urine enhanced vegetative growth, chlorophyll synthesis, and biomass production in fenugreek and tomato, while cow urine promoted superior root development and improved okra performance. Soil monitoring revealed moderate increases in pH and electrical conductivity following urine applications. Statistical analysis confirmed significant treatment effects (p < 0.001). The study demonstrates that properly managed urine-derived fertilizers represent effective, sustainable, and economically viable alternatives for crop nutrient management. Future studies should evaluate long-term field applications of human and cow urine across diverse soils and climatic conditions. Research on nutrient-use efficiency, microbial interactions, pathogen safety, salinity management, and crop quality is needed. Integrating urine fertilizers with biofertilizers and composts may further enhance sustainable agricultural productivity.