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Terra preta sanitation: recovering plant nutrients and organic matter from faeces

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Research Paper 01/05/2022
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Terra preta sanitation: recovering plant nutrients and organic matter from faeces

Horacio Factura
Int. J. Biosci.20( 5), 176-181, May 2022.
Certificate: IJB 2022 [Generate Certificate]
Key: Bio-charNutrient recoveryOrganic matterTerra preta sanitation

Abstract

Current sanitation system ignore the potential of human excreta as sources of plant nutrients and organic matter which are useful in improving degraded soils. Terra Preta Sanitation (TPS) uses bio-char and converts faeces into soil amendment. This study investigated the chemical characteristics of stored faecal substrate (mixture of faeces and bio-char). Standard methods in the German “Methods Book for the Analysis of Compost” were used, whereby extractions with CaCl2 solution (for determination of pH, total organic carbon and Nitrogen compounds) and CAL solution (for Phosphorus compounds). Total Nitrogen and total Phosphorous in faeces have decreased while pH increased from 7.42 to 8.68. The total organic carbon has increased from 1480 to 1545 milligram per liter (mg/l). In conclusion, TPS is a promising technology in recovering plant nutrients and organic matter in faeces for agricultural application.

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