Cow's urine sprayed just once a week drives away the deadly white flies responsible for heavy damage to cotton, says a report in Natural Product Radiance, a journal published by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

The report says cotton farmers of Senegal, who had been unable to control white flies with chemical pesticides, switched to cow urine and found excellent results.

Just before milking their cows, the farmers collect the urine in a bucket and allow it to ferment for a few days. They then dilute it with water and spray over the cotton plants, the report said.

Minerals like iron, potassium and magnesium are present in cow's urine, and therefore it acts as a good fertilizer as well, the report said adding,

“Its acidity kills newly sprouting weeds.”