Lime-treated urine improves sunflower growth without shifting soil bacterial communities

Urine contains high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, which can be utilized as fertilizer in sustainable agriculture, forestry, landscaping. Before urine application, the stabilized with calcium hydroxide (lime), raises pH inhibits urea hydrolysis. However, impact lime-treated on plants soils remains unclear. Here, diluted 1:10 water was applied to sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.), growth soil bacterial diversity examined at 2 months. We show that significantly increased sunflower up 85 %, plant biomass 151 leaf area 137 number leaves per by 2.5 compared untreated plants. No major differences Shannon or Simpson indices were detected between treatment groups, though small shifts phyla composition observed, depending presence. This work demonstrates recycled effectively used for fertilization non-food crops landscaping