PixieJaneYou need to come to our dog walking park and see all of the brown spots, dead trees and corroded dog walking sign posts. Oh yea, and the spots where my daughter’s dog pissed in the yard 2 months ago is still brown.
In a general sense, yes, urea is a nitrate fertilizer.But just google ‘Fertilizer Burn’. Too many nitrate salts will damage plants.And since dogs are both creatures of habit, same place every time, and they “need to get the last word in”, same place as every other dog, they tend to cause fertilizer burn.
I think that Calvin’s urine would spread out enough (coming from such a height) that it wouldn’t do much damage. But it’s a good enough idea for a cartoon.In general, during composting things like ammonia come off, that’s why composted waste is good for plants while fresh urine or manure is bad.
Calvin’s monster-avoidance method never would have worked for me as a kid. Because 1) I am a girl, and 2) Getting that close to the window would have left me vulnerable to monster attack via the bed-wall gap. That bed-wall gap was dangerous.ANDConcentration of nitrogen compounds is a major factor. Li’l bit all over: good. Lot in one spot: bad.
You could be anywhere in the world and entertain yourself with an imagination like that.40 below in the arctic no problem ,Sahara desert no problem,just pretend your some place with Space Man Spiff.
Urine turns into ammonia. In ancient Rome laundry workers used it to whiten clothes. Rumor has it that Cleopatra used to rinse her mouth out with urine to keep her teeth white.
Using the movie “World’s Fastest Indian” as a reference: Anthony Hopkins had a Lemon Tree in his yard that needed to be peed on daily.BTW: If Calvin had been peeing out the window, long enough for plants to show effect, his parents should be able to see the residual “tracks” from his window sill and down the siding.
Not me but insteadDrAnders on the effect of urine on plants:Actually some plants can absorb pure ammonia and use it as a fertilizer. Ammonia produces the ammonium ion which is one of the nitrogen ions, the other being the nitrate, plants use to get nitrogen. In some countries ammonia is used as an artificial fertilizer. But with urine it is the decomposition of the carbamide it contains, by bacteria, into nitrates that makes it (carbamide that is) a good fertilizer. Carbamide is also the fertilizer that carries the most nitrogen per weight which makes it valuable in agriculture.
The bacteria that converts carbamide into nitrate (usually with some loss via ammonia) aren´t found in urine. Urine is sterile. Those bacteria are found just about everywhere else though so the nitrification begins pretty much immediately as long as there is plenty of oxygen for the bacteria.
Urine contains some salts too. Mainly sodium chloride. Plants need it too but in very small amounts. In greater amounts the urine becomes poisonous. Urine from animals usually contains more salts than human.
Dogsniff, and Hobbes, remember when my comment got yanked because I used the dreaded “p” word? It would appear that, that word is no longer verbotten. Perhaps it was the context in which I used it.
NO-ONE has commented on Calvin’s aim?!?!?! I always have to choose the tallest urinal to reduce sprinkling everywhere. His AIM from the second floor is awe-inspiring!
rentier over 12 years ago
The plants must grow better, it’s dung!!
Linux0s over 12 years ago
History of a mystery.
BRI-NO-MITE!! Premium Member over 12 years ago
It takes over a year for the grass to grow back where a dog “marked territory”.
margueritem over 12 years ago
Urine is too concentrated for plants.
Odd Dog Premium Member over 12 years ago
Mom and Dad might want to take a step back plants wont be only thing not doing well
rogue53 over 12 years ago
Brings back memories of yesterday’s ‘water’ balloon. Watch out mom.
bahramthered over 12 years ago
A random dose of urine is good for plants. Sustained long term exposure is bad, just like over fertilizing.
GROG Premium Member over 12 years ago
Hearing “splish, splash” may have given me the urge to take a bath. But for Calvin’s parents there’s some other kind of party going on.
Opus Croakus over 12 years ago
I don’t know about plants, but it’s definitely bad for grass. Ask anyone who has a dog with a favorite pee spot.
rentier over 12 years ago
A fine surprise for Mom and Dad! Certainly they can imagine a better shower!!
woodwork over 12 years ago
works to keep varmints out of the garden
Puddleglum2 over 12 years ago
The plants on the other side of the house have it ‘made in the shade’!
Puddleglum2 over 12 years ago
Calvin might go out the window, but that’s another ‘story’!
Puddleglum2 over 12 years ago
Calvin’s plans might go out the window if his parents stay much longer!
Puddleglum2 over 12 years ago
“Urine, you’re out; that same old ‘doo-doo’ follows you about.”I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist!
J Short over 12 years ago
Don’t eat the yellow snow, and watch out where the huskies go.
Hansternator over 12 years ago
PixieJaneYou need to come to our dog walking park and see all of the brown spots, dead trees and corroded dog walking sign posts. Oh yea, and the spots where my daughter’s dog pissed in the yard 2 months ago is still brown.
Nebulous Premium Member over 12 years ago
In a general sense, yes, urea is a nitrate fertilizer.But just google ‘Fertilizer Burn’. Too many nitrate salts will damage plants.And since dogs are both creatures of habit, same place every time, and they “need to get the last word in”, same place as every other dog, they tend to cause fertilizer burn.
trimguy over 12 years ago
Far better to be pissed OFF than pissed ON
walruscarver2000 over 12 years ago
The last time I heard this much discussion about some pissy nonsense the state legislature was in session.
LtPowers over 12 years ago
Composting converts the waste into useful material. On a farm, everything gets more spread out, rather than concentrated on one spot.
Neither is at all comparable to concentrating urine deposits in one place over a long period of time.
chassimmons Premium Member over 12 years ago
I think that Calvin’s urine would spread out enough (coming from such a height) that it wouldn’t do much damage. But it’s a good enough idea for a cartoon.In general, during composting things like ammonia come off, that’s why composted waste is good for plants while fresh urine or manure is bad.
Number Three over 12 years ago
I love the artwork of the house in the last panel.
Are you sure you have not been visited by the ‘Tinkle Fairy’ and not a monster, Calvin?
xxx
Clobbered by Science Premium Member over 12 years ago
Calvin’s monster-avoidance method never would have worked for me as a kid. Because 1) I am a girl, and 2) Getting that close to the window would have left me vulnerable to monster attack via the bed-wall gap. That bed-wall gap was dangerous.ANDConcentration of nitrogen compounds is a major factor. Li’l bit all over: good. Lot in one spot: bad.
pouncingtiger over 12 years ago
Urine trouble when Mom and Dad find out, Calvin.
stevelydick over 12 years ago
It’s the salts in the urine that are harmful for the plants. Diluted, it’s fertilizer. Concentrated, it’s toxic.
StrangerCoug over 12 years ago
…I think any comment on my part would result in me being lynched.
Bill Chapman over 12 years ago
Dad at work the next day: “Last night was a whizzer, let me tell you!”
rentier over 12 years ago
One is sure! Urine stinks!
ratlum over 12 years ago
You could be anywhere in the world and entertain yourself with an imagination like that.40 below in the arctic no problem ,Sahara desert no problem,just pretend your some place with Space Man Spiff.
BRI-NO-MITE!! Premium Member over 12 years ago
Urine turns into ammonia. In ancient Rome laundry workers used it to whiten clothes. Rumor has it that Cleopatra used to rinse her mouth out with urine to keep her teeth white.
guswild over 12 years ago
I had a weeping willow tree that had a ball diamond next to it. Well the stupid idiots used it as their outhouse and it died. Damn that pissed me off
sonnygreen over 12 years ago
Using the movie “World’s Fastest Indian” as a reference: Anthony Hopkins had a Lemon Tree in his yard that needed to be peed on daily.BTW: If Calvin had been peeing out the window, long enough for plants to show effect, his parents should be able to see the residual “tracks” from his window sill and down the siding.
Spyderred over 12 years ago
Not me but insteadDrAnders on the effect of urine on plants:Actually some plants can absorb pure ammonia and use it as a fertilizer. Ammonia produces the ammonium ion which is one of the nitrogen ions, the other being the nitrate, plants use to get nitrogen. In some countries ammonia is used as an artificial fertilizer. But with urine it is the decomposition of the carbamide it contains, by bacteria, into nitrates that makes it (carbamide that is) a good fertilizer. Carbamide is also the fertilizer that carries the most nitrogen per weight which makes it valuable in agriculture.
The bacteria that converts carbamide into nitrate (usually with some loss via ammonia) aren´t found in urine. Urine is sterile. Those bacteria are found just about everywhere else though so the nitrification begins pretty much immediately as long as there is plenty of oxygen for the bacteria.
Urine contains some salts too. Mainly sodium chloride. Plants need it too but in very small amounts. In greater amounts the urine becomes poisonous. Urine from animals usually contains more salts than human.
ewalnut over 12 years ago
I remember the vile proboscis.
Karaboo2 over 12 years ago
An outhouse on the second story?, good thinking Calvin. Hahaaha
westny77 over 12 years ago
Calvin is one funny dude
supersexyghotmew95 over 12 years ago
he didnt (:O
thirdguy over 12 years ago
Dogsniff, and Hobbes, remember when my comment got yanked because I used the dreaded “p” word? It would appear that, that word is no longer verbotten. Perhaps it was the context in which I used it.
bmonk over 12 years ago
“But doesn’t Calvin have to get out of bed to get to the window?”
++++
Look at panel 7 (last of the small ones)—Calvin’s bed is next to the window.
Now, if he doesn’t have a screen on his window, he’s golden.
calvinsfriend110 over 12 years ago
I guess urine good quality.
cookies333 over 12 years ago
He better hope none of the neigbours saw!
Sliprod over 12 years ago
At my home it was a driveway, nobody knew.
mikehop23 over 12 years ago
Vonne Anton over 12 years ago
NO-ONE has commented on Calvin’s aim?!?!?! I always have to choose the tallest urinal to reduce sprinkling everywhere. His AIM from the second floor is awe-inspiring!
cosman over 12 years ago
Gives “peas in the pod” a whole new meaning..
dahawk over 12 years ago
Composted urine and excrement is entirely different from fresh.
tuslog64 over 12 years ago
At least Calvin has an indoor bathroom to jog off to.I was in 4th grade before we had a house with indoor plumbing.