Research & reports

Haryuni Haryuni, Sapto Priyadi, Suswadi Suswadi, Mrih Rahayu, Achmad Fatchul Aziez · PROSIDING SEMINAR NASIONAL DIES NATALIS 41 UTP SURAKARTA · Global

This article reviews types and management of urban farming, concluding that vertical farming is widely adopted due to its adaptability to limited urban land. Plant management typically involves planned and regular practices, utilizing household waste for fertilization and pest control. Common plant disturbances are caused by insects, fungi, bacteria, and viruses.

Magdalena Grochulska-Salak, Aleksandra Nowysz, Anna Tofiluk · Buildings · Global

This research reviews urban agriculture as green and blue infrastructure solutions, evaluating modern hybrid units that combine biomass and food production with water retention in urban areas. It defines criteria and typology for urban resilience solutions, analyzing the correlation between water production, management, retention, and reuse within sustainable urban agriculture systems in compact cities. The study describes a typology for cultivation and production in modern cities, contributing to discussions on synergy in urban planning, architecture, and engineering for city resilience.

· Crop Research · Global

To address problems such as incomplete kernel development and shrivelled kernels during sweet corn growth, the spraying of liquid organic manures was attempted. An RBD study with eight treatments and four replications revealed that the combined application of FYM at 10t/ha with two sprays of panchakavya 3% at fortnightly intervals resulted in the highest values for all growth and yield parameters while maintaining soil fertility and productivity.

Eloísa Pajuelo, Sandra Arjona, Ignacio D. Rodríguez‐Llorente, Enrique Mateos‐Naranjo, Susana Redondo‐Gómez, Francisco Merchán, Salvadora Navarro‐Torre · Frontiers in Marine Science · Global

This study evaluated the plant growth promoting (PGP) activity of the rhizobacterium Pantoea agglomerans RSO7 and its application as a biofertilizer in an urban orchard. RSO7 enhanced alfalfa growth in vitro, and a bacterial consortium including RSO7 fostered the growth and yield of several winter crops in an urban orchard by 1.5 to 10 fold. However, RSO7's classification in biosecurity group 2 prevents its use according to current European regulation.

Siti Aisyah Salim, Siti Hajar Salim, Fadhlina Mohd Razali · International Journal of Sustainable Construction Engineering Technology · Malaysia

This research explored potential urban farming activities for improving the economic status of urban residents through structured literature reviews (SLR). A search of ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Scopus databases yielded 851 papers, with 90 articles used for final classification after a three-iteration filtering process. The study indicated that while urban farming's potential is promoted in Malaysia, research investigating its ability to improve urban residents' economic status remains very lacking.

Charles Karani, Eric Obedy Gido, Hillary K. Bett · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Global

This study surveyed 456 urban agro-producer households using an electronically-structured questionnaire to explore informal agro-food waste management and safety measures in low- and lower middle-income countries. Findings showed significant disparities in management and safety practices between participating and non-participating livestock and mixed producers. Waste reduction (86%), utilization (86%), segregation (63%), and composting (58%) were preferred, while disposal (18%) and mixing with salt/dry feeds (24%) were less preferred. Knowledge variables, such as waste sorting and urban agriculture knowledge, had a greater influence on these practices.

Agnieszka Zawadzińska, Piotr Salachna, J. Nowak, Waldemar Kowalczyk, Rafał Piechocki, Łukasz Łopusiewicz, Anna Pietrak · Agronomy · Global

This study investigated the use of compost made from pulp and paper mill sludge, fruit-vegetable waste, mushroom spent substrate, and rye straw as a growing medium for container-cultivated tomatoes. Tomato plants grown in compost-enriched media showed higher leaf greening, more ripe fruit, and increased levels of polyphenols, flavonoids, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and copper compared to controls. Specifically, a medium with 25% compost, 30% high peat, 15% low peat, 20% pine bark, and 10% wood fiber yielded the highest fresh fruit weight, total polyphenol content, and L-ascorbic acid levels.

Petra Schneider, Vincent Rochell, Kay Plat, A. Jaworski · Circular Economy and Sustainability · Global

A chapter starting from the premise that food production is one of the world's major consumers of water and energy, and that greater efficiency in food production is needed given population growth. It states that circular approaches have a long tradition in food production but that industrial farming has interrupted traditional cycle-closed farming approaches, leading to various environmental challenges. The chapter outlines the basics of traditional gardening and farming approaches and describes how their characteristics have been adapted in modern farming systems including aquaponics, permaculture, urban farming, and recovered traditional farming systems.

Mariana Cecilia Grohar, Barbara Gacnik, Maja Mikulič-Petkovšek, M. Hudina, Robert Veberič · Horticulturae · Global

A laboratory study measured caffeine content and phenolic profiles across three types of tea and coffee waste through two successive solvent extractions. The first extraction was far more efficient overall, though green tea retained high flavanol content and mate tea high phenolic-acid content in the second extraction, black tea had the highest caffeine content across both extractions, and water proved the most effective solvent in nearly all cases — a simple, accessible extraction method the authors note is relevant to urban horticulture as a potential alternative to conventional pesticides.

Aman Tejaswi, Saket Anand, Manoj Kumar Tiwari · WEENTECH Proceedings in Energy · Global

Reuse of wastewater is becoming progressively more common, but comes with a set of risks and challenges (2021). This paper analyzed and evaluated various non-conventional treatment options and on-site farm management practices for wastewater-fed irrigation aimed at growing safer produce, with fit-for-purpose treatment and effective farm practices seen as ways to enhance benefits and reduce risks. Treatment techniques assessed ranged from simple sedimentation ponds to sandbag, fabric-based and bio-sand filtration, natural and synthetic adsorbents, and microfiltration, with the advantages, risks, applicability and limitations of each system evaluated. Farm management practices, including various irrigation methods, were likewise assessed. Wastewater-fed drip irrigation was identified as a much safer practice, especially for producing leafy vegetables.

M B Bayer, Susanne Neugart, Tobias Pöhnl · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Global

This study compared kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica L.) grown in all four cardinal directions of a residential building, including indoor cultivation behind UV-filtering glass windows. Total carotenoid concentration benefited from sun-exposed growing locations, including the indoor glass condition, while concentrations of nutritionally important lutein did not differ among locations despite their differing abiotic stress conditions (sun exposure, temperature, water). Total phenolic concentration profited most from direct sunlight but was severely reduced behind glass windows. Satisfying growth rates were achieved under all tested conditions.

Isaac Asirifi, Steffen Werner, Stefanie Heinze, Courage Kosi Setsoafia Saba, I. Lawson, Bernd Marschner · Agronomy · Ghana

In a field experiment on irrigated urban agriculture in the Guinea savannah zone of Ghana, this study assessed the transient effect of rice husk biochar (20 t ha-1) and/or mineral fertilizer (NPK 15-15-15) on microbial respiration, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and enzyme activities in soils irrigated with wastewater and tap water. One year after biochar application, soil organic carbon (SOC) increased by up to 123%, hot water extractable carbon (HWEC) increased by 11-26%, and MBC increased by 34%. Basal respiration increased significantly by up to 46% in mineral-fertilized soil but decreased by 12-45% under wastewater irrigation. The metabolic quotient (qCO2) indicated reduced microbial community stress and higher carbon use efficiency with biochar application and wastewater irrigation. Total enzyme activity increased under wastewater irrigation, and biochar-treated soils showed a more diverse composition of carbon-cycling enzymes and higher aminopeptidase activity. Biochar and wastewater showed positive effects on biological soil properties that contributed to soil fertility, and the results suggest biochar may have beneficial long-term effects on non-biochar SOC stocks.

Julia Södergren, Christer Larsson, Lars Wadsö, Karl-Johan Bergstrand, Håkan Asp, Malin Hultberg, Jenny Schelin · Journal of Cleaner Production · Global

A study evaluating the microbiological food safety of using anaerobic digestate — a liquid residue from food-waste biogas production — as a fertilizer in hydroponic vegetable production. The biofertilizer's microbial community was analyzed via 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, challenge-tested with Salmonella enterica, Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus cereus, and assessed for microbial activity using isothermal calorimetry. The microbial community changed distinctly through a necessary initial nitrification process, with Mycobacterium as the most abundant genus. Deliberate contamination of the nitrified biofertilizer with 5 log10 CFU/mL of S. enterica or L. monocytogenes became undetectable by selective plating after 48 hours of incubation at 20°C. B. cereus was present naturally at low levels (~10 CFU/mL), and an inoculation of 5 log10 CFU/mL declined to these background levels within 24 hours at 20°C. The biofertilizer did not support microbial activity without an added external nutrient source containing an accessible carbon source and trace elements. The digestate type studied was judged microbiologically safe for hydroponic use, but the constant presence of viable B. cereus was noted as underscoring the need for continuous risk assessment whenever the fertilizer's production process is modified.

Jassen Callender · · Global

This essay frames city sustainability as a lifecycle question centered on end-states, arguing that water and soil are essential supports for urban farming — water comprising three interlinked cycles and soil representing a phase of nutrient cycling — and that lifecycle concerns intersect with cities' basic, "physiological" needs in Maslow's sense. It presents a conceptual discussion rather than original data, measurements, or a defined study population.

· Recycling · Global

Monitors a prototype room over a year with walls of soil-filled PET bottles and a roof of multiple reused-material layers, including a green roof of waste materials, soil and endemic plants, demonstrating good thermal performance.

Bergstrand K., Asp H., Hultberg M. · Sustainability · Sweden

Evaluates using nutrient-rich anaerobic digestate from urban food waste as a hydroponic nutrient solution, supporting a closed-loop approach to urban and peri-urban food production.

Chen, L., Robinson, P., Silva, A., Kumar, M. · PLOS ONE · Global

Study across 25 urban gardens in Asia, Africa, and Latin America tracking nutrient cycling. Urban farms recover 60-80% of nutrient inputs through composting versus 10% in conventional agriculture.

Dora Neina, Sibylle Faust, Rainer Georg Joergensen · Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture · Ghana

A study in Ghana investigated the potential agricultural value of charcoal and firewood ashes by examining differences in their chemical and mineralogical compositions and the suitability of various extractants for plant nutrients. Charcoal ash had higher pH, EC, and CCE than firewood ash, while firewood ash contained higher levels of As, Cu, Mg, and Zn, and more Mg-rich minerals. Both ashes contained trace elements, but their bioavailability and plant uptake after field application may differ and may not necessarily lead to plant uptake.

Maha Deeb, Peter M. Groffman, Manuel Blouin, Sara Perl Egendorf, Alan Vergnes, Viacheslav Vasenev, Donna L. Cao, Daniel C. I. Walsh, Tatiana Morin, Geoffroy Séré · SOIL · Global

This review examines the use of Constructed Technosols (CTs), mixtures of organic and mineral waste, for green infrastructure (GI) in urban spaces. While CTs have high potential to provide multiple soil functions and contribute to urban greening, urban soils are often physically, chemically, or biologically unsuitable for GI features. The analysis suggests that the composition and structure of CTs should be adapted to available wastes and by-products, as well as future land use and environmental conditions, highlighting the need for careful design to overcome existing limitations.

Dan Wen, Ni‐Bin Chang, Martin P. Wanielista · Scientific Reports · Global

This study assessed the nutrient removal efficiencies of Iron Filings-based Green Environmental Media (IFGEM) for stormwater runoff, using an isotherm study, a column study of reaction kinetics, and microstructure examination. IFGEM, made from recycled materials like tire crumb and iron filings, demonstrated over 90% nitrate removal and 50-70% total phosphorus removal under most inlet conditions. The ammonia byproduct allows for potential reuse of spent IFGEM as soil amendments in urban farming applications.

Ali Keyvanfar, Arezou Shafaghat, Tan Sze Inn, Sapura Mohamad · DigitalCommons - Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw State University) · Malaysia

This research developed the Sustainable Urban Farming Index Assessment (SUFIA) Model to quantify and evaluate the performance of urban farms' sustainable food production. Applying a critical literature review and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), the model identified reducing air pollution, soil health and water cleaning, and food sovereignty as critical for food productivity. When implemented at Zenxin Organic Farm in Malaysia for validation, the farm earned a Grade C, indicating it is a usable urban farm but requires substantial improvements in areas such as soil health, water cleaning, site design, and community environment.

Maëlle Tripon, Dorothée Boccanfuso, Marie-Ève Yergeau · Cahiers de recherche · Global

This literature review examines urban agriculture (UA) models, their implementation contexts, production needs, and impacts. It highlights that UA faces limitations, particularly restricted access to good quality (unpolluted) soil, water, and air, which can negatively impact productivity. UA can also have negative impacts on ecosystems and human health, such as pollution and diseases, depending on management methods.

· Materials International · Global

A study assessed carbon storage in rooftop farming using rice husk biochar (RHB) as a soil amendment. Seven soil supplementation treatments were assayed, including 20 wt.% organic fertilizer (worm casting), RHB (1.5, 2.0, or 2.5 wt.%), and combinations of worm casting with RHB, plus a non-supplemented control. The highest amount of carbon in biomass and soil was observed when using soil supplemented with worm casting plus 2.5 wt.% RHB, which positively impacted carbon sequestration in rooftop agricultural soils and urban food security.

Noiry Pérez Pompa, Santa Laura Leyva Rodríguez · Sinergia Académica · Cuba

A diagnosis of farms infested by Dichrostachys cinerea (marabú) in urban and suburban agriculture was conducted at Los Téllez farm in Becerra, Las Tunas municipality, Cuba. Soil quality indicators for reddish-brown Fersialitic soils over granitoids were evaluated across four land-use systems: two infested by D. cinerea and two agricultural systems cultivated for 10 years after marabú deforestation. Results showed that D. cinerea systems exhibited the highest soil quality index, based on organic matter, bulk density, and earthworm biomass. Conversely, cultivated systems achieved the lowest accumulation of organic carbon, oligochaete density and biomass, and total porosity.

Kamal Prasad Acharya, Govinda Prasad Devkota, Krishna P. Dhakal · Higher Education Studies · Nepal

This article explores the possibilities of using eco-san in school gardens in Nepalese community schools, focusing on transformative pedagogical impacts on the social learning environment. The use of urine as fertilizer through eco-san positively impacted students' meaningful engagement, social connections, and confidence development, as shown by qualitative data from students, parents, and teachers. Parents and teachers highly valued increased student engagement, opportunities for experiential learning through dialogue conferences, and the building of social skills like cooperation and argumentation.