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The Example of Valley View University (VVU) in Accra, Ghana Tropentag, Bonn, 11-13 October. Exploring the Potential for Recycling Nutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity. Jörn Germer jgermer@uni-hohenheim.de +49 (0)711 894 6600
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The Example of Valley View University (VVU)in Accra, Ghana Tropentag, Bonn, 11-13 October Exploring the Potential for RecyclingNutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity Jörn Germer jgermer@uni-hohenheim.de +49 (0)711 894 6600 Joachim Sauerborn sauerbn@uni-hohenheim.de +49 (0)711 459 2385 University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Institute for Plant Production and Agroecology in the Tropics and Subtropics, Garbenstr. 13, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany www.uni-hohenheim.de/respta 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 fromFAOstat 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 Tree plantations Urine Fecal compost Sanitary grey water Rain fed farming Kitchen grey water Fruit orchards Vegetable gardens Recycling Nutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity — Valley View University in Accra, Ghana / Germer, J. & Sauerborn, J.
Nutrient content of human urine (dry urinals) • 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 (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 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 technologytransfer • 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:www.uni-hohenheim.de/respta • Project Booklet: www.ioev.de Recycling Nutrients to Enhance Agricultural Productivity — Valley View University in Accra, Ghana / Germer, J. & Sauerborn, J.