Assessing and Managing Soil Quality for Urban Agriculture in a Degraded Vacant Lot Soil

Urban Farm DB summary

In Youngstown, Ohio, this study measured soil and plant responses to organic-matter amendments made from yard wastes and to raised beds on vacant lots where houses had recently been demolished. Two years after application, the amendments significantly improved soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and increased vegetable yields, with a soil quality index comparable to rural agricultural soils. The results indicate urban agriculture can be productive on vacant land and that yard-waste amendments can restore degraded urban soils.