Cow Urine’s Agricultural Renaissance: Enhancing Crop Yield and Environmental Sustainability

Abstract

In recent decades, global awareness of the need to conserve the natural environment and safeguard food integrity has increased markedly, leading to renewed interest in organic and low‑input farming systems. Cow urine is a distinctive organic resource that is easily accessible on dairy farms and has been used as a fertilizer, plant growth booster, and natural pesticide in agriculture. It is mostly water (≈95%) and contains urea, mineral salts, hormones, and enzymes that can supply nutrients and bioactive compounds to crops. Experimental studies indicate that cow urine and cow urine-based formulations may improve certain growth parameters, enhance yield components, and suppress selected pests and pathogens under specific conditions. However, the evidence base remains fragmented and context‑dependent, as many reports are small scale, short term, or combine cow urine with other inputs, making it difficult to isolate its independent effects or generalize across crops and environments. In addition, variability in cow urine composition, limited standardization of formulations, and the scarcity of large, replicated field trials constrain robust conclusions about its agronomic efficiency relative to conventional fertilizers and pesticides. This review summarizes reported uses of cow urine and cow urine‑based formulations in agricultural practices, critically evaluates their benefits and limitations.