Urban Farm DB
Research catalogue
Database research record2023·France (Ivry-sur-Seine)

An original and efficient fertilizer for cherry tomato plants grown in urban agriculture: Feral pigeon guano

Chloé Duffaut, Florence Brondeau, Julien Gasparini

Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems

Urban Farm DB summary

This study tested the effects of feral pigeon guano as a fertilizer on cherry tomato plants in an urban environment on a rooftop in Ivry-sur-Seine, France. In June 2017, 15g of guano was added to 15 cultivation bags, while 15 control bags received only water. After 15 days, guano-treated plants were taller and tended to have more flowers, and the total number and mass of harvested cherry tomatoes were one to two times higher than the control. However, the average mass per fruit was not affected by the treatment. The study concluded that pigeon guano is an efficient local fertilizer for cherry tomato plants in urban areas.