Research & reports

Luz Dary Agudelo, María Fernanda Sanabria, Deivis Suárez Rivero · Journal of research in engineering sciences. · Colombia (Bogotá)

This research investigated the growth and productivity of peas (Pisum sativum L.) with the application of organic fertilizers in urban agriculture conditions in Bogotá, Colombia. The experiment was conducted in two Community Integrated Units of Urban Agriculture (UICAU), "SOS" and "Sceptre Grow." Variables such as stem length, stem thickness, number of true leaves, and productivity were evaluated. The study found that Super Soup biofertilizer at a 1/10 vv dilution yielded the best stem length in villages, while a 1/30 vv dilution and the "Growth Center" UICAU showed better results for the number of leaves and overall productivity.

Luis Malagón González · · Global

This research aims to create a company by designing a prototype for sustainable urban agriculture, utilizing recycled and reused elements to facilitate human management and integration with the natural environment.

Gundula Proksch · · Global

This chapter discusses the potential of urban agriculture to mitigate water management challenges. While industrial agriculture consumes 70% of accessible water, cities struggle with water security and fail to utilize on-site sources like rainfall. Urban agriculture is presented as a solution to these water challenges by integrating water-efficient strategies with existing urban infrastructure, building systems, and management approaches.

Gundula Proksch · · Global

This chapter investigates factors for implementing sustainable, energy-efficient urban agricultural operations, focusing on the solar needs of plants, the extension of growing seasons indoors, and passive solar gains for buildings. It provides an overview of greenhouse typologies, cover materials, and lighting systems to optimize energy use and production. Additionally, it examines the potential for photosynthesis and the carbon cycle to utilize building exhaust systems for CO2-rich air and excess heat to support crop cultivation, exploring intersections among nutrient, water, and energy cycles through case studies.

Hardiyanto Hardiyanto, Constancio C. de Guzman · Indonesian Journal of Agricultural Science · Philippines (Metro Manila)

This study investigated the levels and distribution of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in white cabbage, soil, and irrigation water from urban agricultural sites in Las Piñas and Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines. Field areas were divided into three sections based on distance from the main road (0, 25, and 50 m), and metal contents were measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The average Pb content (1.09 µg g-1 dry weight) in white cabbage was highest immediately beside the main road, with a similar trend in soil. A negative relationship was found between distance from the main road and Pb and Cd contents in white cabbage and soil. While overall concentrations of Pb and Cd in white cabbage, soil, and irrigation water were within acceptable limits, further study on heavy metal contamination in crops, especially those grown along main roads, was suggested.

Kafeel Ahmad, Zafar Iqbal Khan, Asma Ashfaq, Ameer Khan, Hazoor Ahmad Shad, Mujahid Sher, Zahoor-ul-Hassan Dogar, Ijaz Rasool Noorka, Sumaira Yasmin, Vincenzo Tufarelli, Eugenio Cazzato · The Philippine Agricultural Scientist · Pakistan

This study analyzed heavy metal and metalloid levels in soil and cabbage (Brassica oleracea) from two urban farming sites in Sargodha, Pakistan, irrigated with wastewater. Findings showed that mean concentrations of arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) in soil, and manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), molybdenum (Mo), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in cabbage, exceeded permissible limits at both sites. Significant differences were observed in metal and metalloid levels in vegetable samples between sites.

Mujtaba Baqar, Nadia Jamil, Naveed Ahsan, Kiran Khanum, Abdul Qadir, Mariyam Zameer, Anam Khalid · Transylvanian Review · Pakistan (Lahore)

This case study investigated the impacts of heavy metals from wastewater irrigation on soil, groundwater, and leafy vegetables (Indian mustard, spinach, fodder) in the Charrar Drain catchment, Lahore, Pakistan. Samples were collected from seven sites. Drain water showed Cd, Cr, and Pb concentrations exceeding limits at most sites, and groundwater Cd concentrations also exceeded limits, though Cr and Pb were within permissible ranges. Soil samples contained Cd, Cr, and Pb, and leafy vegetables irrigated with wastewater showed varying heavy metal concentrations, indicating a heavy metal bioaccumulation issue that may exceed threshold limits.

Annette Voigt, T. E. Leitão, Andrew Hursthouse, Ari Jokinen, Avigail Heller, Monika Latkowska, Paulo Brito da Luz, Yvonne Christ, Béatrice Bechet, Mart Külvik, Johannes Langemeyer · · Global

This chapter presents guidance on tools for undertaking an ecological assessment with a simple, integrated, and systemic approach using sets of indicators. Agro-environmental indicators allow efficient assessment of the state, trends, and rate of change of environmental status or ecosystem services. Indicators for a garden’s suitability as a habitat depend on selected species and their demands. Gardens near the seashore require coping with difficult environmental conditions, and water requirements vary by climatic zone and crop evapotranspiration rates. Improving physical and chemical soil conditions generally enhances crop growth and reduces risks of erosion, compaction, and poor drainage. Urban gardening can expand habitat areas for particular animal species from nearby green areas. The chapter provides information on minimizing main risks from urban environmental pressures on urban gardening.

Afsana Akther, Tofael Ahamed, Tomohiro Takigawa, Ryozo Noguchi · Journal of the Japan Institute of Energy · Global

This study proposes a GIS-based multi-criteria analysis model for solid waste management in Dhaka, Bangladesh, incorporating factors such as waste-generating site locations, road networks, environmentally sensitive locations, causes of illegal dumping, and waste segregation to select suitable sites for waste disposal and composting that would support urban agriculture. Using exclusionary criteria, decision factors, and weighted standardization, the analysis produced a suitability map identifying potential composting site locations.

Shlrene Quaik, Kaizar Hossain, Mahamad Hakimi Ibrahim · International Journal of Agricultural Research · Global

Liquids derived from vermicomposting of pre-composted cow dung—vermiwash and vermicomposting leachate—were diluted to prevent leaf scorching and applied to sweet potato as a foliar treatment. Chemical analysis confirmed the presence of plant nutrients, and increases in chlorophyll content (chlorophyll a, b and total) and improved nutrient distribution in sweet potato leaves were observed. The results indicate vermiwash and vermicomposting leachate have potential as organic foliar fertilizers, and their application in field-scale urban farming fertigation is feasible, though enriching their nutrient content further would require adding other nutrient-rich substrates.

Irina Stanishevskaya · Educational Media Reviews Online · Global

A media review covers the documentary Inhabit (2015, 92 min), directed by Costa Boutsikaris and produced by Emmett Brennan. It opens with a quote by permaculture co-originator Bill Mollison — "All we need to live a good life surrounds us: sun, wind, people, buildings, stones, sea, birds, and plants" — and explains permaculture as combining "permanent" and "agriculture" to adapt ecosystem principles to agriculture and living in harmony with nature. Citing figures that the US applies 900 million tons of pesticides annually and loses about 3 tons of topsoil per acre per year, the film introduces people who apply permaculture principles to farms, orchards, gardens, landscape and playground design, including Ben Falk (founder of the Whole System Design Permaculture Research Farm, Vermont), Eric Toensmeier and Lisa Depiano (Massachusetts), Lisa Fernandes (Maine), Steve Whitman (New Hampshire), and Dwaine Lee, an urban designer in New York involved with the Five Boroughs Green Roof on Randall's Island.

Luz Andrea Tautiva Merchán, Fabián Enrique Martínez Camelo · · Colombia

A brochure describing demonstration and training modules on urban and peri-urban agriculture - organic food production systems for limited spaces - that Colombia's agricultural research corporation Corpoica has established and run at its research centers since 2006. It describes the institutional program itself and does not present empirical outcome data.

Sandra Yamile Salamanca Corredor, Brayan Osnaider Diaz Morales · · Colombia

This pilot study, focused on the La Estancia neighborhood of Bogotá, assessed the technical and economic feasibility of implementing home practices for utilizing household waste -- (1) vermiculture for organic waste, (2) urban agriculture and vertical gardens, and (3) reuse of greywater for non-potable uses. It also investigated whether residents of the neighborhood already use these practices for managing waste and greywater, and their level of interest in the topic.

Thomaier S., Specht K., Henckel D., Dierich A., Siebert R., Freisinger U. B., Sawicka M. · Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 30(1):43-54 · Global

Survey of 73 zero-acreage (building-based) farms across four continents, analyzing innovative technologies, supply patterns, and business networks of commercial hydroponic and aquaponic urban farming.

Stephane Bour · · Global

Ecotrancoso focuses on restoring life to an ecosystem that has been transformed into a desert by unsustainable agricultural practices. This is achieved through the creation of a food forest.

Óscar Moreno Flogia, Andrea Navarrete, Fernando Rodríguez Cortés · · Colombia

This article presents research results on how to approach the concept of "sustainable development" by teaching organic agriculture principles in a school garden at Liceo Campestre Bosque Andino in Sibate, Cundinamarca, Colombia. Constructivism and meaningful learning served as the pedagogical framework, with concept maps and the Likert scale used as assessment tools.

David Mkwambisi, Andrew J. Dougill, Philip Antwi‐Agyei, C. P. Chabvuta · CABI eBooks · Malawi

Research in Lilongwe and Blantyre, Malawi, assessed urban agriculture's potential to improve soil quality, crop yields, and livelihoods. Preliminary evidence showed urban waste could address food insecurity and soil nutrient benefits, but several constraints in waste management were identified. City authorities are not proactively utilizing organic municipal waste for soil quality and agricultural production benefits.

Klaus Lorenz · Soil Science · Global

Urban agriculture (UA) engages approximately 800 million people globally and covers over 67 million hectares of urban cropland. While UA contributes to food security, growing food in urban ecosystems, particularly on degraded urban soils, presents challenges. Past research on UA has focused on social sciences, and although studies on urban soils have increased, many urban areas remain neglected. Further research and dissemination of knowledge are needed on how to maintain or enhance urban soil fertility through soil and land-use management practices.

Tovonarivo Rafolisy, Heriniaina Ramahefarison, Dominique Massé · · Madagascar (Mahajanga)

Two experiments in Mahajanga, Madagascar, compared municipal solid waste (MSW) composts with conventional organic inputs (poultry or pig manure) in leaf cropping systems over two three-month seasons. MSW composts resulted in yields higher than pig manure and urea, and similar to poultry manure. However, monitoring soil mineral nitrogen levels revealed significant accumulation under certain conditions, indicating a possible source of environmental pollution by nitrates.

А А Золотаревский, И И Прокопович · Лесной вестник / Forestry bulletin · Russia (Moscow)

This article explores the potential of composts made from woody-plant waste (WPW) as an alternative to expensive organic additives for urban gardening in Moscow. It suggests that composting WPW can provide a cost-effective solution for preparing fertile soil, which is crucial for plant survival in urban environments. Modern composting technologies allow for the mechanization of WPW composting, producing vegetable earth suitable for planting trees.

Juan Sebastián Muñoz Castiblanco, José Francisco Landinez Cardona · · Colombia (Bogotá)

In the Manantial and Triangulo Alto neighborhoods of Bogotá, serious problems in solid waste management necessitate solutions involving the community and public sanitation companies. This project proposes diagnosing the current state of waste and, based on the findings, implementing an environmental education campaign with an emphasis on urban agriculture and vermiculture. It also aims to improve community collection centers and promote the use of various household materials.

J.S.C. Wiskerke · · Global

This chapter focuses on urban food supplies and the challenges of managing waste flows from urban households and markets in developing countries. Large amounts of municipal solid waste, human excreta, and wastewater are produced, most of which end up in non-engineered landfills or pollute the urban environment. It is noted that these wastes pollute the urban environment, especially in low-income countries with less developed sanitation infrastructure.

· Journal of Biological Chemistry and Environmental Sciences · Egypt (Cairo)

A study conducted over two seasons (2011/2012 and 2012/2013) at Ain Shams University in Cairo investigated the effects of four growing substrates on green onion and Jews mallow production. Green onion growth, yield, lipid, fiber, and total sugar content were highest in peatmoss + vermiculite substrate, while Jews mallow growth, yield, total carbohydrates, protein, ash, energy, sugars, indoles, and vitamin C content were highest in clay substrate. The study recommends peatmoss + vermiculite for green onions and clay substrate for Jews mallow.

Angela Glore · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · Global

A book review of Sustainable [R]Evolution, edited by Juliana Birnbaum and Louis Fox, a survey of permaculture (and permaculture-like) projects and communities around the world. Multiple contributors provide short profiles of ecovillages, urban agriculture projects, farms, and teaching centers, interspersed with writing on permaculture design principles. The review notes permaculture was coined as a word and design system by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the 1970s, describes Mollison's Permaculture: A Designer's Manual as the seminal work on its elements and values, and characterizes permaculture as an inherently personal form of gardening tailored to a property's specific microclimate, topography, and use patterns.

Ricardo Hernández Pérez, Flora Margarita Sosa Rodríguez, Juan Carlos Noa-Carrazana, Norma Flores‐Estévez, Dagoberto Guillén-Sánchez, Cristina Panfet Valdez · Cuadernos de Biodiversidad · Cuba

This study recorded nine Heliconia (Heliconiaceae) species as new accessions from gardens and yards and three botanical gardens (in forested mountain areas of Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, and Sancti Spíritus provinces) in Central Cuba, confirming species identification through molecular corroboration. A propagation strategy using micropropagation and in vitro conservation at the Cienfuegos Biofactory was applied, and the report states that collaboration among universities, the municipal government, and farmers allowed development of new cultivation areas, gardens, and home gardens despite limited resources.