Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
385 results(10 / 16)
Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. growing in soil and containers for urban agriculture in developing areas
2019A. Pardini, Furio Massolino, Chiara Grassi · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Global
In urban agriculture in developing areas, Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. is a promising strategic species due to its low water and soil fertility requirements and its edible entirety. This study conducted a trial comparing the initial productivity of cladodes multiplied in pots, car tires, and open fields. Results suggest that the prickly pear can be cropped better in large exhausted tires than in small plots, also saving money on materials.
DIYFood sovereignty & justiceClimate changePropuesta metodológica simple para el cultivo agrícola urbano (basada en la experiencia de una familia venezolana en Viena)
2019Debbie Méndez, Julio Quintini · · Austria (Vienna)
This project proposes a simple 7-step methodology for urban agriculture, based on the experience of a Venezuelan family participating in a community garden in Vienna, Austria, for two years. The methodology aims to enable urban residents to create sustainable communities, improve nutrition with fresh produce, and generate economic gains and better quality of life. It draws on successful urban agriculture experiences globally and aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 2, 11, and 13.
CommunityDIYFood sovereignty & justiceClimate change저관리 도시농업을 위한 벽면녹화 부직포 처리가 식용꽃인 한련화(Tropaeolum majus L.)의 생육과 개화에 미치는 영향
2019박재현, 윤용한, 이재만, 송희연, 주진희 · · Global
This study investigated the effects of non-woven fabric layers on the growth and adaptability of Tropaeolum majus in a container-type wall vertical greening system under non-water conditions. Researchers found that four layers of non-woven fabric maintained the highest soil water content and generally promoted better morphological properties and chlorophyll content compared to fewer layers. However, shoot fresh weight was highest with three layers, and flowering characteristics showed no significant difference among treatments, with overall growth being best in the three-layer treatment.
DIYBiodiversitySTUDY ON THE STATUS OF ROOF TOP GARDENING IN SELECTED RESIDENTIAL AREAS OF DHAKA CITY, BANGLADESH
2019Mahmuda Islam, Abdullah Al Nayeem, Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, Khandokar Tanjim Elahi · Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Agricultural · Bangladesh (Dhaka)
A study investigated the present status of rooftop gardening in four selected residential areas of Dhaka City, Bangladesh. Plot-to-plot interviews using questionnaires were conducted across 1376 buildings in Dhanmondi, 391 in Lalmatia, 272 in Mohakhali DOHS, and 697 in Uttara 13 no. Sector. The study found that 39.1%, 59.2%, 36.6%, and 22.2% of buildings in these locations, respectively, had rooftop gardening, with nearly one-third (36.4%) of buildings overall containing rooftop gardening.
DIYCommunityPolicyAlternativas bioorgánicas de nutrición en el cultivo de la zanahoria (Daucus carota var. sativa) en un huerto intensivo
2019Pedro López Labarta, José Luis Montejo Viamontes, Yacelis Cárdenas García, Dimeri Piñeiro Esquivel, Diosmaris de la Caridad Vasallo Cristia, Amaury Rondón Aquilar · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Cuba
This research, conducted in the Ernesto Che Guevara intensive orchard in Esmeralda municipality, Cuba, from December 2016 to March 2017, compared different bioorganic nutrition alternatives and their influence on growth and yield indicators in carrot cultivation. Using a completely randomized experimental design with five treatments and three repetitions, plant height, root length, and yield were evaluated. Fortified liquid humus and liquid humus enriched with boron, calcium, and zinc yielded the best agronomic indicators and the greatest economic benefits compared to natural liquid humus and the control.
Organic cycleDIYFood sovereignty & justiceUrban gardens as a source of self-grown food in Czech towns and cities
2019Jan Vávra, Petr Daněk, Petr Jehlička, Miloslav Lapka · · Czech Republic
An analysis of large-scale representative survey results in Czech towns and cities investigated urban gardens as a source of self-grown food. The study found that while food production in urban areas is less frequent than in rural areas, the level of self-sufficiency in urban households is similar to that in rural households. This paper presents data on the scale of urban food production and its contributions to ecosystem services and resilience.
DIYClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceBiodiversityUrban Farming Using Upcycling Technique of Brassica rapa L. Cv (Pechay Tagalog) in Ermita, Manila, Philippines
2019Alma E. Nacua · Modern Concepts & Developments in Agronomy · Philippines (Manila)
This paper aimed to observe Pechay stem growth in loam soil planted in recycled fruit Styrofoam boxes and to upcycle Pechay stems in Ermita, Manila, Philippines, also observing signs of infection. An experimental design method was used, with Pechay seeds grown in the same container type with loam soil as a control. Out of 180 Pechay stems planted, 128 survived, showing a 71% survival growth rate. Pechay grown from seeds had a 98% survival rate.
DIYFood lossOrganic cycleThe plurality of urban agriculture models
2019Mathilde Martin-Moreau, David Ménascé · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Global
The global resurgence of urban agriculture since the early 2000s manifests in diverse forms, ranging from high-tech controlled environments to low-tech intensive organic micro-market farming. These models are implemented in both developed and emerging economies, adapting to various local contexts like community gardens, rooftops, and vertical farms.
CommunityDIYDiseño de un modelo de agricultura urbana para el desarrollo de huertos familiares
2019Cindy Carolina Ortiz Franco, kleber Bajaña Avarado · · Ecuador
A study was conducted in the Atahualpa parish, Santa Elena province, Ecuador, on the design of an urban agriculture model for family garden development. The investigation was carried out through documentary research, comprising stages of diagnosis via surveys and interviews with council managers, approach, theoretical proposal based on survey results, methodological procedure, analysis, and conclusions on project viability. The diagnosis determined that farmers are interested in participating in the implementation of the urban agriculture proposal designed for the Atahualpa parish to improve food security and nutrition in families.
DIYFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsOrganic cycleINTERACTIVE EFFECT OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS ON GROWTH AND YIE LD OF HYBRID CAPSICUM (Capsicum annuum L.) IN ROOF TOP GARDEN
2019Md. Khalid Mahmud, Md. Forhad Hossain, Sk Monirul Islam, Asraf Ali, Md. Taslim Hossain · Big Data In Agriculture · Bangladesh (Dhaka)
An experiment conducted in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from October 2017 to March 2018, investigated the interactive effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on hybrid capsicum growth and yield in a rooftop garden. Three nitrogen levels (0, 100, 130 kg N ha-1) and three phosphorus levels (0, 50, 80 kg P2O5 ha-1) were applied. The combination of 130 kg N ha-1 and 80 kg P2O5 ha-1 significantly increased plant height, fruit diameter, fruit length, and fruit yield, suggesting optimal fertilizer application for enhanced growth and yield.
DIYOrganic cycleEl cubio como una alternativa productiva sostenible en condiciones de agricultura urbana de Bogotá
2019Santiago Manuel Sáenz Torres, Alfredo López, Lena Prieto, Tulio Rodríguez · Equidad y Desarrollo · Colombia (Bogotá)
The production potential of cubio (Tropaeolum tuberosum), an Andean native root vegetable, was investigated under urban agricultural conditions in Bogotá. Cubio was found to be highly nutritious, exhibit good performance under adverse edaphoclimatic conditions, show tolerance to pests and diseases, and yield excellent quality and productivity. Production was higher with organic fertilization compared to conventional chemical fertilizers.
DIYOrganic cycleEconomicsDESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF SMART VERTICAL GARDEN SYSTEM FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE INITIATIVE IN MALAYSIA
2019Munirah Hayati Hamidon, Samsuzana Abd Aziz, Tofael Ahamed, MUHAMMAD RAZIF MAHADI · Jurnal Teknologi · Malaysia
This research designed a compact smart vertical garden system for urban agriculture in Malaysia and analyzed the growth performance of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) within it, comparing it to a commercial conventional hydroponic system. The bottom stack of lettuce in the vertical garden showed maximum height, highest leaf count, and width, though only height had a significant difference across stacks (P < 0.0001). No significant difference was found between the smart vertical garden system and the conventional hydroponic system for lettuce height, number of leaves, or leaf width.
Digital agricultureDIYEconomicsEfeito de três bioestimulantes no comportamento morfológico e produtivo da cultura do rabanete (Raphanus sativus L.)
2019Alexander Calero Hurtado, Yanery Pérez Díaz, Kolima Peña Calzada, Elieni Quintero Rodríguez, Dilier Olivera Viciedo · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Cuba (Sancti Spíritus)
An experiment in Sancti Spíritus, Cuba, from February to April 2016, evaluated the effect of three bio-stimulants (ME-50, vermicomposting humus lixiviate, Biobras-16) on radish crops, with 45 plants observed per treatment. The bio-stimulants positively affected radish production, increasing average leaf production per plant, root diameter, biomass production, and yields to over 1.05 kg.m-2. Specifically, the ME-50 treatment reduced the percentage of damaged tuberous roots by 50% compared to the control.
DIYOrganic cyclePolitics and the contested terrain of urban gardening in the neoliberal city
2019Chiara Certomà, Chiara Tornaghi · Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) · Global
This book is a collection of chapters unpacking the forms, functioning, and meanings of urban gardening in the context of the neoliberal transformation of cities. It offers an overview of diverse claims in the micro-politics of garden activism and discusses how these projects are fraught with social solidarities and divisions, empowerment and learning processes, conflicts and negotiations. The collection aims to contribute to a critical discussion of the “politics of urban space” and enrich the emerging debate on radical, critical, and political gardening.
Governance failureCommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceDIYVermicomposting of different organic materials using the epigeic earthworm Eisenia foetida
2018· International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture · Global
Evaluates the efficiency of the epigeic earthworm Eisenia foetida in vermicomposting different organic substrates, including kitchen waste.
DIYCompostOrganic cycleA Semi-Systematic Review of Capillary Irrigation: The Benefits, Limitations, and Opportunities
2018· Horticulturae · Global
Reviews capillary irrigation systems such as capillary wicks, noting higher yields and lower water use than conventional irrigation, no runoff, and economical installation and operation.
DIYSustainability of Urban Agriculture: Vegetable Production on Green Roofs
2018S. Alan Walters, Karen Stoelzle Midden · Agriculture · Global
Vegetable production on green roofs faces multiple challenges, resulting in minimal current activity despite its potential for urban agricultural sustainability. While intensive green roof systems are considered suitable for vegetable production, extensive systems with shallow-rooted crops like lettuce, kale, and radish show the greatest potential for sustained productivity due to building weight restrictions. Deeper-root crops like tomatoes require constant monitoring of fertility and moisture. Green roofs are not presented as a total solution for urban food provision.
Economic viabilityDIYCommunityClimate changeEconomicsSUSTRATO BIOFÍSICO PARA AGRICULTURA PROTEGIDA Y URBANA A PARTIR DE COMPOST Y AGREGADOS PROVENIENTES DE LOS RESIDUOS SÓLIDOS URBANOS
2018Universidad Tecnológica Fidel Velázquez, Alfredo Ricardo Pérez Fernández, Mariana Ruiz Morales, Universidad Iberoamericana, María Odette Lobato Calleros, Universidad Iberoamericana, Eloy Pérez Valera, Biosistemas Sustentables, S. A., Promotora de Inversión de Capital Variable, Perla Rodríguez Salinas, Universidad Tecnológica Fidel Velázquez · Revista Internacional de Contaminación Ambiental · Global
This study developed biophysical substrates for protected and urban agriculture by mixing compost from urban solid waste with polystyrene and tepetate. Experimental tests were conducted on roses and tomatoes under four different treatments in a greenhouse, evaluating substrate nutritional properties and productivity. The results indicate that the proposed biophysical substrates possess physical, chemical, and biological properties making them a viable substitute for urban gardening or protected agriculture.
CompostOrganic cycleDIYLa lombriz Roja Californiana (Eisenia foetida) una Aliado en la Agricultura Urbana Sustentable
2018Lisbeth Gallardo, Yelitza Contreras, J. Saavedra Jaramillo, Raúl Ernesto Alban · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Venezuela
This paper investigated the population growth index of the Red Californian Earthworm (Eisenia foetida) to produce solid and liquid humus from urban organic waste. Conducted at the Artisanal Bioisumes Laboratory at the Bolivarian University of Venezuela, the study compared compost and egg shells with coffee waste as substrates. The egg shell and coffee waste substrate yielded better earthworm population growth and humus production.
CompostOrganic cycleDIYCommunityTypically Diverse: The Nature of Urban Agriculture in South Australia
2018Georgia Pollard, James Ward, Philip Roetman · Sustainability · Australia (South Australia)
This paper explores the economic sustainability of home food gardens in South Australia using new data from the Edible Gardens project online survey. While saving money is a top motivation for many respondents, the study notes that it remains to be seen whether current gardening practices actually support this aspiration. The paper concludes that more work is needed to measure the full costs of different gardens to better predict their financial accessibility and economic sustainability.
Economic viabilityDIYEconomicsUrban–rural linkageESTUDIO COMPARATIVO DEL PORCENTAJE DE GERMINACIÓN PARA VARIEDADES LACTUCA SATIVA: HUERTOS SUSTENTABLES EN ENTORNOS URBANOS
2018Laura Isabel Bedoya Corrales, David Alberto García Arango, Jovany Sepúlveda-Aguirre, Camilo Andrés Echeverri Gutiérrez, Leidy Catalina Acosta Agudelo · Producción + Limpia · Global
Urban agriculture promotes vegetable cultivation in cities, but it requires germinating seeds to obtain seedlings in order to initiate this practice in a sustainable and practical manner.
DIYWater Use Efficiency in Urban Food Gardens: Insights from a Systematic Review and Case Study
2018Georgia Pollard, James Ward, Philip Roetman · Horticulturae · Australia (South Australia)
A systematic review of literature from 1975 to 2018 on urban agriculture yield research found that only 5 out of 25 articles actively collected water use data from the perspective of water use efficiency, all from purpose-built experimental gardens. Given the scarcity of literature on urban agriculture water use efficiency and measurement, a case study from South Australia demonstrated the diversity of water pricing, sources, and irrigation methods. Four equations for calculating urban agriculture water use efficiency (WUE) were proposed.
Climate changeEconomicsDIYArtes de la madre tierra, construyendo nuestro huerto vertical con los niños y las niñas de los cursos 401 (2017) y 503 (2018) del I.E.D. Julio Garavito Armero J.M.
2018María Angélica Flórez Trujillo, Catalina Andrea García Pinilla · · Colombia (Bogotá)
This report details an internship project conducted in 2017-2018 with 4th and 5th-grade students at I.E.D. Julio Garavito Armero J.M. in Bogotá, Colombia. The project, "Mother Earth Arts," aimed to foster environmental awareness and agricultural knowledge by addressing urban growth's environmental problems. Students created a vertical garden and learned about food security through planting organic aromatic and medicinal seeds.
Food educationDIYFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityUrban Gardening Treibhaus Luzern: Anbau Eines Gemüsegartens Im Jugendkulturhaus Treibhaus Luzern: Projektbericht
2018Romana Brunner · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Switzerland (Luzern)
This report documents an urban gardening project implemented at Jugendkulturhaus Treibhaus Luzern from October 2016 to November 2017. The project's main goal was to participatively involve youth and young adults in urban gardening, fostering their identification with and appropriation of the space. The report details the project's planning, execution, organization, and the difficulties and insights gained during its implementation.
CommunityFood educationDIYEvaluation of effect of human urine fertilizer in the cultivation of corn in Camagüey
2018Dania de la Caridad González Gort, Arelys Valido Tomés, Roberto Vázquez Montes de · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Cuba (Camagüey)
A study on "The New Hope" farm in Camagüey, Cuba, evaluated human urine as a fertilizer for corn cultivation under family farming conditions. Family-collected human urine, stored for six months and applied in dilution, was compared to a mineral fertilizer and an unfertilized control using a randomized block design with 18 sample plants per treatment. Results showed that human urine yielded equivalent results to mineral fertilization, with no significant differences, but both differed from the unfertilized treatment, concluding that urine is an economic alternative for family farming.
Organic cycleDIYEconomics