What is Gold Water? – Natural and Sustainable Plant NutritionGolden water is a fertilizer, consisting of a mixture of urine and water. By diluting urine with 5–10 parts water, a nutrient-rich solution is created, rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium – essential substances for plant growth. This method has been used for thousands of years and offers an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers. The concentration of the golden water is not crucial, but it is important to dilute it with water so that it does not become too strong for the plants. Golden water has has been used for thousands of years and is the environmentally friendly choice for you who want to give your plants a boost.
Gold water is free and something everyone has access to. It contains lots of nutrients that the garden loves. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It is also antiseptic. In the past, there were no chemicals in plastic containers to fertilize the crops with. People didn't lug bags of fertilizer home, but of course they used what they had and the results are superior.
Long-term sustainable cultivation requires management of plant nutrient resources. Nutrients that are removed with crop products from farmland must be replaced if the soil's productive capacity is to be maintained. Large-scale systems are being developed with the aim of returning the nutrition of toilet waste to agriculture, but that does not prevent us from also using simple alternatives when appropriate. Gold water is tried and tested fertilization with urine/gold water is recommended by researchers at the Swedish University of Agriculture for environmentally friendly fertilization and sustainable development. Everyone with a garden or plot of land can create their own cycle in everyday life with the help of the Guldkannan Towa.
Natural fertilizer: Contains important nutrients that promote plant health.
Environmentally friendly: Reduces the need for artificial fertilizers and the load on the sewage system.
Economically: Free and available to anyone with access to water and urine.
Effective: Can yield up to seven times better harvests according to research from SLU.
Dilution: Mix 1 part urine with 9 parts water to avoid eutrophication.
Application: Water between the rows and avoid hitting the leaves directly.
Frequency: Use once a week during the growing season.
Plant types: Suitable for most plants, but avoid on sensitive species such as berry bushes and young
When there is a lack of substances such as potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus, it shows on the leaves. In case of lack of nitrogen the leaves turn bright yellow. Potassium produces burnt and yellow edges on the leaves. The berries can also become discolored. Lack of phosphorus produces reddish edges around the leaves and petioles.
All plants need nutrients to feel good, some more or less. Guldvatten is a comprehensive option. It is difficult to fertilize with gold water as the urine is mixed with water. If the piss is not mixed out, it can burn the plants, but if you mix with 9 parts water, there is no danger.
To fill this knowledge gap, the National Organization for Recreational Cultivation (FOR) together with Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) conducted studies and practical trials on how human urine is best used as plant nutrition in organic farming.
Human urine contains the three most important nutrients for plants: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Nitrogen promotes green growth, phosphorus strengthens the roots and potassium improves the resistance of plants and fruit setting. On average, one liter of urine contains about 5 grams of nitrogen, 1 gram of phosphorus and just over 2 grams of potassium. All substances are present in a readily soluble form, which means that plants can quickly absorb them. This makes urine an effective and fast-acting fertilizer.
Fertilizing with urine is easy. You can collect fresh urine in a plastic container or pot and then use it directly in the garden, or store it in a tightly sealed container for a few weeks before using it. To avoid odor and damage to the plants, you should dilute the urine with water. A common recommendation is to mix one part urine with ten parts water. Alternatively, you can water immediately after spreading undiluted urine.
How much urine is needed depends on the fertility of the soil and the crops you are growing. Generally, it is sufficient to add 1 to 2 liters of diluted urine per square meter during a growing season. An adult produces about as much urine per day as is enough for one square meter of growing area. Two people can therefore fertilize about 400 square meters of garden during a summer half-year.
Urine also works well as a supplement to compost, especially if the compost material is low in nitrogen, such as leaves, straw or sawdust. The urine speeds up decomposition and improves the nutritional balance of the compost.
The best time to fertilize with urine is during spring and early summer, when the plants are in their most active growth phase. In late summer and autumn, it is better to avoid nitrogen-rich fertilization, as it can lead to unnecessary leaf formation and delay maturation and bud set. The same rules of thumb apply as for other nitrogen-rich fertilizers: do not fertilize perennial plants after July. A clear sign that the plants are getting enough nitrogen is their deep green leaf color.
Most plants thrive well with urine as fertilizer, especially nutrient-demanding crops such as leeks, cabbage, tomatoes and pumpkin plants. However, plants that are sensitive to salt or strong nitrogen should receive extra diluted urine – in mixtures such as 1:15 or 1:20. This applies, for example, to young plants, herbs and some berry plants. For more sensitive plants or plants in pots, you can try a weaker mixture and observe the results.
With proper handling, using urine as fertilizer is both safe and hygienic. Urine is usually sterile, but in exceptional cases it can contain bacteria. Therefore, it is wise to avoid direct contact between urine and edible parts of the plant. If you are unsure, you can wait at least a month before harvesting, or cook the vegetables properly.
Pharmaceutical residues, such as antibiotics and hormones, can be found in urine, but research shows that these substances break down quickly in the soil and have no measurable impact on plants or soil life when used on a small scale.
Salt is another factor to keep in mind. Eating a lot of salty food can increase the salt content of your urine, which some plants are sensitive to. In practice, the risk is small, but if you want to be extra careful, you can avoid collecting urine on the same day you have eaten a lot of salt.
Finally, you should consider your surroundings. To avoid odor, it is recommended that you use well-diluted urine and water afterwards. Also, avoid using urine in water catchment protection areas or where the soil is highly permeable, so that you do not risk affecting groundwater.
Fertilizing with urine is a simple, sustainable and natural way to take care of your garden. It is free, effective and environmentally friendly. Studies from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences show that urine works at least as well as conventional fertilizers – and it is also a step in the right direction towards more circular farming.
With The gold jug Towa It makes it easy to collect urine and water directly where the plants need the nutrients. The jug combines a pot and watering can in one – perfect for the garden, the country or the allotment.