Research & reports

Veena G Sonole, Soumya CB, A Meghana, Mahesh G Shetty · International Journal of Research in Agronomy · Global

This review examines vermicomposting, a process using earthworms to convert organic waste into nutrient-rich compost. Vermicompost benefits horticultural crops, improves soil fertility, and reduces the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Vermitechnology offers solutions for waste management, soil fertility, and sustainable agricultural practices in urban agriculture.

Nunik Lestari, Nurdian, Rezky, Sesilia Putri, Samsuar · Abdi Techno. · Indonesia

A community service program (PKM) for students and teachers at SD Negeri 69 Barru in Indonesia aimed to provide knowledge and skills for cultivating plants through a simple hydroponic system utilizing plastic waste. This program served as part of urban farming and 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) concept education, creating educational facilities for students. The activity resulted in improved participant knowledge and skills in hydroponics, provided urban farming, hydroponics, and 3R learning facilities for the school, fostered 3R awareness through plastic waste utilization, and created green open spaces for student education.

Alessandra Russi, Danni Da Silva · Agroalimentaria · Brazil

This qualitative-quantitative study characterized school gardens in public education networks across twenty-four municipalities in Brazil's Serra Gaúcha region using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data revealed most schools were located in urban areas, predominantly served elementary school students during the daytime, and lacked guidance from qualified professionals and agroecological management for their gardens. Based on these findings, four educational brochures on agroecological techniques were developed for elementary students.

Suwa Lal Yadav, Manish Yadav, Devilal Birla, Indra Raj Yadav · · Global

Organic farming is evolving by integrating regenerative techniques, agroecological principles, precision agriculture, and urban farming concepts to meet growing demand for organic products. This approach aims to improve agricultural output, address climate change, manage pests, and optimize resource use, contributing to a sustainable and ethically sound food ecology. The organic industry is projected to grow due to increased consumer awareness and education.

Moye Eric Kongnso · International Journal of Environment Agriculture and Biotechnology · Cameroon

A mixed-methods study in the West Region, Cameroon, examined compost use in urban farming through 265 household surveys, 11 in-depth interviews, and one focus group. While compost availability and technical assistance favor its use, small-scale farmers face significant technical, knowledge, financial, institutional, and policy constraints. State extension services prioritize mineral fertilizers over compost, and the current regulatory framework does not encourage compost use, leading to the persistence of traditional practices.

· KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology) · Sweden

As a continuation of the ongoing "Soil Correspondences" project, people engaged in local soils were invited to write letters to soil. The letters were read and composted during a ritualized working day to create an 18-day compost, forming an ecosocial sculpture. This activity learned from the composting practices of artists Etta Säfve and Jona Elfdahl from the artist duo Gylleboverket, and the resulting compost will be returned as probiotics to the local soil.

Teguh Sarwo Aji, Alimatul Farida, Muh Prasetyo Nugroho · ABDI KAMI Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat · Indonesia (Probolinggo City)

This service program aimed to assist the Pokdarwis Pilang community in Probolinggo City, Indonesia, in managing animal waste into organic compost to support the sustainability of urban farming. The Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach was used, and results showed an increase in technical skills, the establishment of a compost production unit, changes in waste management behavior, and improved economic welfare through partnerships with local markets. The ABCD approach proved effective in creating sustainable social change through community empowerment.

Fefi Nurdiana Widjayanti, Insan Wijaya, Firlana Rosa, Farah Zahra, Fajar Pamadi · Kontribusi Jurnal Penelitian dan Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat · Indonesia

This study aimed to empower PKK (Family Welfare Movement) in Indonesia by providing urban farming knowledge and techniques, utilizing yards, narrow lands, and plastic waste to increase family income. Extension, training, and mentoring on static and non-static hydroponic cultivation techniques were conducted, and hydroponic systems such as verticulture using polybags, DFT (Deep Film Technique), floating raft, and verticulture were developed. These activities contributed to improving skills and knowledge in cultivating hydroponic vegetables using plastic waste and increasing income.

· · India

The IIHS Campus in Kengeri, India, is located at the intersection of Ramasagara Lake, Sulikere Forest, and an urban settlement, making it a suitable site to examine the interconnectedness between natural systems and the built environment. The campus aims to become an archetype of a safe space for humans and nature, building eco-friendly and climate-resilient structures, and establishing a multidisciplinary living lab. The NATURAL SYSTEMS Box Set documents the campus's water systems, biodiversity, integrated campus agriculture, and related experiments.

Anwar Anwar, Haisyah Haisyah, Permi Kabisatio AS., Wiwi Sawira, Aco Iham Belman, Hildawati Hildawati, Muhammad Fahyu Sanjaya · Jurnal Tarreang Tren Pengabdian Masyarakat Agrokompleks · Indonesia

In Kontar Hamlet, Indonesia, a community service team provided counseling and training on processing banana tuber waste into liquid organic fertilizer. This addressed the issue of abundant unused banana stems. As a result, organic fertilizer was produced, approximately 90% of the community understood the concept of liquid organic fertilizer during counseling, and about 80% knew the production process after training.

Terusaw Solomon, Kumelachew Yeshitela, Wondmagegn Taye Abebe · Discover Water · Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)

This study assessed the effectiveness of a vetiver grass floating treatment wetland in reducing irrigation water pollution at the Mekanisa-Gofa-Lafto Cooperative farm in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. After a 7-day treatment, the wetland reduced BOD (73.68%), COD (73.92%), pH (0.39%), Chloride (43.12%), Total Hardness (66.56%), and TSS (96.21%), approaching recommended irrigation water quality guidelines within 3 days. However, Electro Conductivity (22.2%) and Sodium (15.2%) concentrations increased, exceeding recommended values.

Mohammad Enamul Hoque, Abdullah Al Mamun, Perengki Susanto · International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management · Bangladesh

A study collected data from 352 households in two major Bangladeshi cities to predict organic food production intention and behavior in urban rooftop gardens using the value-belief-norm (VBN) theory and theory of planned behavior (TPB). Findings showed that biospheric and egoistic values improved ecological worldview, which, along with awareness of consequences and social norms, predicted personal norms. Personal and social norms forecasted the intention to produce organic food in rooftop gardens.

Cosimo Dondini, Xavier Úbeda, Giacomo Certini, Marcos Francos · Journal of Soils and Sediments · Spain (Barcelona)

This study analyzed soils from ten urban gardens in Barcelona, Spain, with a special focus on possible contaminants. Irrigation water was also analyzed, and some of the waters contained a high concentration of salts and nitrites, which are listed as a pollutant. While three tests for heavy metals did not attest to significant pollution, other toxic elements not considered in this study could come from road transport gases or the port of Barcelona. Overall, the soil quality was concluded to be suitable for growing vegetables.

Tri Wahyu Nugroho, Aulia Luqman Aziz, Hery Toiba, Ahmad Imron Rozuli, Suyadi Suyadi · JAPI (Jurnal Akses Pengabdian Indonesia) · Indonesia (Malang)

This community service activity in Mulyoagung Village, Malang, Indonesia, aimed to empower the local economy through urban farming by utilizing organic waste such as cocopeat and polybags as growing media. The program successfully enabled the community to adopt urban farming concepts, proving its effectiveness in addressing shrinking agricultural land and strengthening the local economy. However, it is also noted that sources of materials, human resources, and market access are among the obstacles causing urban farming failures.

Yessy Pristika Efendy, Hadi Suhardjono, Widiwurjani Widiwurjani · JURNAL AGROTROPIKA · Indonesia

This study investigated the optimal planting media composition and liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) concentration for pakcoy plants using a completely randomized design with two factors. The first factor included soil, compost, and goat manure in ratios of 1:1:1, 1:1:2, and 1:2:1, while the second factor involved LOF and urea concentrations at four levels. The combination of planting medium composition 1:1:2 and LOF concentration of 4 ml/liter water yielded the best results for all observed growth and production parameters.

María Virginia Maiza, Joan Muñoz‐Liesa, Anna Petit‐Boix, Verónica Arcas‐Pilz, Xavier Gabarrell · Resources Conservation and Recycling · Global

A life cycle assessment compared three human urine management strategies for nitrogen fertilizer production: an artificial wetland, an on-site lab-scale aerobic reactor (S2), and a centralized wastewater treatment plant. S2 showed the highest environmental impacts in 6 out of 8 categories, including high energy demand (750 kg MJ-eq) and ecotoxicity (602 kg 1.4-DCB-eq), although it offered an advantage in marine eutrophication. Upscaling S2 could reduce impacts and lower payback time, with nitrogen production exceeding 2.3 times the yearly demand for building tomato production.

Daniele Silva de Almeida, Diana da Silva Ribeiro, Ellen De Oliveira Marques · Nexus · Brazil (Itacoatiara-AM)

This study discusses the experiences and learnings from creating a mandala community garden at the Chico Xavier social work institution in Itacoatiara-AM, Brazil. Motivated by a local need for agroecological awareness, the project involved dialogical classes, soil planning, mandala-shaped bed formation, and vegetable distribution. Results included sustainable planting, environmental and artistic awareness, and the promotion of environmental education in the Amazonian context.

Carmen K. Blubaugh, R. Chesnut, Katherine Hagan · Journal of Applied Ecology · Global

This study investigated how organic composts mediate the effects of plant diversity across trophic levels over two field seasons, conducting 18 experiments in school gardens. Vermicompost strengthened a positive relationship between flower richness and foliar-feeding omnivores, but predators increased with flower richness and were not affected by vermicompost. The net outcomes of vermicompost and plant diversity were neutral for herbivores.

Joshua Garcia, Mariel Mondragon-Becerra, I. Rojas Martínez, Mallika Nocco, Cristina Lazcano · Applied Soil Ecology · United States (California)

A greenhouse trial was conducted in urban agricultural soil from the San Francisco Bay Area, USA, to investigate the effects of organic amendments derived from local municipal waste products on the soil microbiome, tomato productivity, and quality. Liquid food waste hydrolysate and mixed herbivore waste compost increased microbial abundance in the soil compared to mineral fertilizer. While mineral-fertilized tomato plants generally had higher productivity and yields, plants treated with the hydrolysate and mixed herbivore waste compost showed enhanced fruit soluble sugar content (°Brix).

Paolo Paolo · International Journal of Neutrosophic Science · Global

This study used a neutrosophic multi-criteria approach to evaluate the impact of biostimulants and organic additives on soil quality, plant growth, and crop yields in urban agriculture. Biofertilizers like Chromococcus and Azotobacter improved nutrient availability and plant health, while mineral additives like zeolites enhanced soil fertility. Three scenarios were analyzed: one showed exceptional plant growth and high sustainability (Very Very High), another highlighted challenges in vegetative growth and sustainability (Low), and a third combined good plant growth with high sustainability and climate change mitigation (Medium High).

Zzimbe, Adrian, Fuoss, Kylie, Armas, Joelle, Blubaugh, Carmen · SPARK Scholarship at Parkland (Parkland College) · Global

This experiment examines how water stress and vermicompost interactively shape pest attraction in urban agriculture, which faces challenges like water access and pest pressure. Vermicompost is hypothesized to mitigate water stress by enhancing organic matter and humic acids to improve water retention, and to relieve pest pressure by enhancing plant defensive chemistry.

Lubna Taj, Tahira Yasmeen, Waqas Haidar, Qasim Ali, Muhammad Arif · Soil & Environment · Pakistan

A two-year study (2016-2017) in Pakistan's peri-urban agricultural areas investigated the impact of seasonal variations in wastewater irrigation on sugarcane. Sugarcane irrigated with wastewater showed increased antioxidant activities compared to freshwater-irrigated plants, suggesting biochemical adjustments to contaminants. Significant seasonal differences in plant mineral content were also observed, indicating that wastewater irrigation can alter plant physiology and affect agricultural output.

Adriana de Paula Cavalcante Fraga, Ana Moraes Coelho, Jéssica Castro Chryssafidis, José Geraldo Barreto Monteiro de Andrade, Maíra Bombachini Silva, Maria Luiza Sevilha Seraphico de Assis Carvalho, Mariana Nicolletti, Nathan Debortoli, Samuel Santos de Souza Pinto · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) · Brazil (Natal)

This case study of urban and peri-urban agriculture in Natal, Brazil, aimed to identify and characterize the benefits these initiatives provide to the territory and to overview three ecosystem services related to microclimate, soil, and water. Using a hybrid methodology combining biophysical modeling and listening to the voices of experienced protagonists, the study identified a significant potential for urban and peri-urban agriculture to contribute to urban development. This research deepens the understanding of the benefits urban agriculture can offer cities, including its potential to mitigate or solve typical urban problems.

Simone Trimmel, Stefan Wagner, Laura Feiner, M. Feiner, Daniela Haluza, Rebecca Hood‐Nowotny, Ulrike Pitha, Thomas Prohaska, Markus Puschenreiter, Philipp Spörl, Andrea Watzinger, Elisabeth Ziss, Johanna Irrgeher · Environmental Science and Pollution Research · Europe

A study of urban gardens in Vienna, Austria, building on a previous study of eleven gardens in the city that found elevated lead (Pb) levels in some soil and plant samples. This work examined the elemental composition of soil and plants from two of the affected gardens one year after compost amendment. ICP-MS analysis of tomato fruit skin, pulp and seeds showed only minor variations in elemental composition unlikely to affect food safety, whereas radishes showed a tendency toward contaminant accumulation in root tips and leaves. Washing lettuce significantly reduced levels of potentially toxic elements including Be, Al, V, Ni, Ga and Tl, underscoring the importance of washing garden produce before consumption; compost amendment was associated with reduced Zn, Cd and Pb levels in radish bulbs. Lead isotope ratios in soil and spinach leaf samples from the earlier study, assessed by MC-ICP-MS, showed a direct linkage between the Pb isotopic signatures in soil and spinach leaves, supporting their use as tracers of Pb sources in the environment.

Remigio Paradelo, Cecilia Herbón, María Teresa Barral · Journal of Soils and Sediments · Spain

This study examined 64 urban soils in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, across different parent materials and land uses, assessing physical properties including bulk density, porosity, water holding capacity, aggregate stability, water-dispersible clay, permeability, and resistance to penetration in field and laboratory measurements, along with erosion risk estimated via the K factor of the RUSLE. Results show heterogeneous physical properties typical of urban soils; high organic matter and iron content were associated with low bulk density and high aggregate stability. Compaction issues were widespread but land-use dependent: soils under urban agriculture had higher permeability and lower compaction than urban grasslands and forests. High infiltration despite compaction was attributed to abundant coarse fragments and preferential flow paths. Overall erosion risk was found to be low based on K factor values, but the study concludes that sound management remains essential because relief, climate, and human behavior can increase erosion risk at specific points.