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Name: Tricia
Status: student
Grade: 4-5
Location: IL
Country: USA
Date: Fall 2011
Question:
Can dog urine kill trees?


Replies:
Urine does have quite a bit of urea, which is a type of nitrogen. Nitrogen is a very important plant food, but it’s concentrated – so it can burn plant roots. Usually it needs to be diluted with water. If you have dogs who have taken a liking to a tree, I would advise training them to urinate on a compost pile instead! The nitrogen helps to feed microbes that break down the compost.

Dr. Tim Durham Instructor, Office of Curriculum and Instruction University Colloquium Department of Biological Sciences Florida Gulf Coast University


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