Decomposition pathways and rates of human urine in soils

J Agric Food Chem. 2013 Jul 3;61(26):6175-86. doi: 10.1021/jf401212n. Epub 2013 Jun 25.

Abstract

This study proposes a comprehensive reaction network of the soil microbial breakdown of the main compounds in human urine to the end products NH₃ and NH₄⁺. A reactive model was developed and parameters were determined against experimental data. The model was used to assess the amount and release rate of NH₃ and NH₄⁺ in a soil control volume flushed with (i) pulses of urine at various dilutions and (ii) a continuous flow of urine at various dilutions and flow rates. In scenario i, 90% of incoming organic nitrogen was converted to NH₃ and NH₄⁺ between 5 and 20 days from application at rates strongly dependent on the initial microbial soil content. Urea and hippuric acid were largely correlated to NH₃ and NH₄⁺ release, whereas microbial functional groups in the same scenarios were poorly correlated with NH₃ and NH₄⁺ release. In scenario ii, 90% conversion was generally reached for low flow rates and was highly nonlinear with the dilution. Finally, a stochastic analysis showed that urine decomposition was more sensitive to uncertainty in microbial growth rate parameters than half-saturation concentrations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / growth & development
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / metabolism*
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / growth & development
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Models, Biological*
  • Soil / chemistry*
  • Soil Microbiology*
  • Urine / chemistry*

Substances

  • Soil