What practice historically involved human waste in agriculture?

The practice that historically involved human waste in agriculture is human fertilizer practices. This method has been utilized for centuries in various cultures around the world, significantly before modern fertilizers became widely available. Human waste, often referred to as night soil, was collected and utilized as a nutrient-rich fertilizer to enhance soil fertility and crop production.

This practice capitalized on the nutrient content found in human excreta, which could provide essential elements like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium necessary for plant growth. Additionally, using human waste can improve soil structure and microbial activity, leading to healthier crop yields.

In contrast, while composting can involve plant material or other organic wastes, it is typically not focused solely on human waste. Crop rotation is a sustainable agricultural practice aimed at maintaining soil health by varying the type of crops planted in a particular area, but does not necessarily include the use of human waste. Organic farming emphasizes natural methods and materials but may also rely on animal manure and organic matter rather than directly using human waste in the manner specified in human fertilizer practices.