Research & reports

Demet Ülkü Gülpınar Sekban, Duygu Akyol · Journal of Urban Planning and Development · Turkey (Trabzon)

This study examined the contribution of residential gardens to ecosystem services in Trabzon City, Turkey. It was determined that both spatial needs and ecosystem benefits can be met with the same Green Infrastructure (GI) elements, and landscape value is supported by GI elements such as edible gardens, pollinator gardens, rain gardens, biological ponds, and green roofs. GI elements combining vegetation and water landscape elements have a higher potential for ecosystem services. The study concluded that green areas of residential gardens should be planned and designed through a holistic GI-oriented approach based on the total building parcel.

Byoung-Kwon Lee, Hyung-Kwon Yun, In-Kyoung Hong, Young-Bin Jung, Sangmi Lee, Sang-Deok Lee · Journal of people, plants, and environment · Global

This study investigated the effects of French marigold, zinnia, spearmint, and basil as companion plants at 10, 20, and 40 cm spacing on cherry tomato growth and fruit quality. Statistical differences were found in stem thickness and total number of fruits per plant, but not in plant height, total fresh weight of fruits, sugar content, fruit hardness, or vitamin C. Stem thickness decreased when spearmint and basil were planted at 20 cm or 40 cm compared to the control, and only zinnia at 40 cm increased the total number of fruits per plant.

Naufal Alip Pratama, Devi Afriyantari Puspa Putri · Emitor Jurnal Teknik Elektro · Indonesia

This research designed an Android-based application named “PlantGo” to guide users and facilitate discussions on urban agriculture, addressing limited land for cultivation in urban areas. Conducted in Indonesia, the application was developed using Flutter SDK and Firebase, following the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) with a Waterfall model. Black Box testing confirmed all features functioned properly, and Usability testing with 30 respondents yielded an 89.75% score, indicating good user acceptance of the application.

Vidhya Jagannathan · Georgia Library Quarterly · United States

The Cobb County Public Library Garden is a community garden that expands library services and promotes patron collaboration. This garden was envisioned for teaching, demonstrating, donating, and involving families in growing food and experiencing the satisfaction of harvesting produce. Library gardens serve as a natural setting for promoting nutritional literacy and hands-on environmental learning, reflecting the Cobb County Public Library's mission.

Dini Sofarini, Deddy Dharmaji, Yunandar Yunandar, Fajriyanti Fajriyanti · Bubungan Tinggi Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia

An aquaponics cultivation technique training was conducted from August to December 2021 in the Sungai Ulin Village community in Banjarbaru City. This activity aimed to increase the use of polyculture technology in urban areas and improve the survival rate of aquaponics products. Evaluation results showed an 80% survival rate for vegetables and 75% for fish, indicating improved knowledge and skills among participants.

Eneng Nunuz Rohmatullayaly, Budi Irawan · Kumawula Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat · Indonesia

This community service activity in Indonesia addressed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on urban food security and family nutrition. It aimed to socialize plant diversity, integrated urban farming techniques for limited yards, and balanced nutrition. The initiative included mapping urban yard utilization and a webinar, "Optimize Yards for Family Nutrition Fulfillment," which engaged 169 participants and provided digital information on plant diversity, utilization, and family nutrition.

Tadesse Wudu, Adimasie Kassaw · International Journal of Horticulture and Food Science · Ethiopia

An observational study in Sirinka, Ethiopia, in October 2018, investigated grafting 30-day-old tomato seedlings onto 20-day-old potato seedlings to create "pomato" plants for urban agriculture. Successful graft unions were observed after two weeks, with plants producing both tomatoes (average 18 fruits, 954g per plant) and potato tubers (4-5 tubers, 219.27g per plant). The experiment confirmed the success of the graft, suggesting its potential for home gardeners.

Tirto Wahyu Widodo, Damanhuri Damanhuri, Ilham Muhklisin, Indra Alief Titale · Jurnal Ilmiah Inovasi · Indonesia

A study in Indonesia investigated differences in the production of three rice varieties (Ciherang, IR 64, Mapan 05) in a soilless cultivation system with intermittent irrigation as an urban farming method. The experiment was arranged in a complete randomized factorial design with two factors and three replications. The Mapan 05 variety showed the best response for panicle length, number of grains per panicle, number of filled grains per panicle, and grain weight per clump, while topsoil+husk+non-intermittent media had the best effect on panicle length, root length, number of grains per panicle, number of filled grains per panicle, and 1000-grain weight.

· Middle East Journal of Agriculture Research · Egypt

Two experiments were conducted in 2020 and 2021 on a rooftop garden in Giza, Egypt, to investigate the effect of substrate type and fertilizing programs on molokhia and spinach yield and nitrate content. Substrate S1 (50% perlite: 50% peat moss) was found more suitable for high yield. While chemical nutrient solution (CNS) alone resulted in the highest yield, the combination of S1 and CNS followed by compost tea for 5 days before harvest (CNS+5) was most suitable for high yield with lower nitrate accumulation.

Riris Lindiawati Puspitasari, Arief Pambudi, Yunus Effendi · Jurnal Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia · Indonesia (Depok)

This community service activity implemented simple hydroponics training to enhance the skills of the street children community in Depok. Training involved street children students at Sekolah Master Depok, practicing hydroponics with simple equipment, and group mentoring. Participants gained information on simple hydroponics techniques and successfully grew vegetables like water spinach, spinach, mustard greens, and pakcoy, which grew unimpeded until harvest at 8 weeks after planting.

Prem José Vazhacharickal, K. S. Jagadish, G. Eswarappa · Agricultural Reviews · India (Bengaluru)

This outlook study reviewed honey bee diversity and the potential for integrating honey bees into urban agriculture and forests in Bengaluru, India. An urban forestry study in Bengaluru identified 374 plant species, with the highest diversity in parks (291 species). Most plant species provided good foraging sources for honey bees, including Apis indica, Apis dorsata, Apis florea, and Trigona iridipennis. The urban agro-ecosystem in Bengaluru was found to be suitable for beekeeping, particularly for stingless bees.

Yumin Park, Yong-Wook Shin · Journal of people, plants, and environment · South Korea

This study analyzed trends of balcony vegetable gardens in Korea from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2021, using 5,011 posts from Naver blogs and cafes. Before COVID-19, balcony vegetable gardening gained attention as urban agriculture participation, but after the outbreak, it became an activity for healing, emotional support, environmental campaigns, and healthy hobbies. The findings suggest that balcony gardening activities provide a healing effect.

Jerome Wei Chiang Teng, Chew Beng Soh, Shiddalingeshwar Channabasappa Devihosur, Ryan Hong Soon Tay, Steve Kardinal Jusuf · Sustainability · Global

This study investigated the effects of agrivoltaic systems on rooftop microclimates and PV efficiency. ENVI-met simulations showed that PV temperatures in plots with crops below the PV system were 2.83 °C lower on sunny days and 0.71 °C lower on cloudy days, leading to a 1.13–1.42% and 0.28–0.35% improvement in PV efficiency, respectively. Data from a physical prototype indicated that evaporative cooling reduced ambient temperatures, with the agrivoltaic system generating 3.05–3.2% more energy daily compared to a control without crops.

Brandon Edwards-Schuth, Marco Cerqueira · Northwest Journal of Teacher Education · Global

This paper suggests that an anti-fascist guerrilla gardening (Plantifa) curriculum provides educational opportunities for community activism. It utilizes anti-fascist, decolonizing, and eco-justice frameworks to connect learners with their communities, local ecosystems, history, and permaculture. The curriculum involves mapping local terrain, identifying plants, and considering food-bearing plants for community needs.

Ade Astri Muliasari, Hidayati Fatchur R, Faranita Ratih L, Doni Sahat Tua Manalu · Community Development Journal Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia (Bogor)

An urban farming program was implemented in Cihideung Ilir Village, Bogor Regency, Indonesia, during the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming for food security. This community service activity targeted female cadres of PKK (Family Welfare Empowerment), providing education on the importance of urban farming and training in cultivation skills. Program evaluation results indicated success, evidenced by the participants' enthusiasm.

Zeba F. Alam, Karen Avena, Lorenzo Sales, Denise Suemith, Riane UY · Indian Journal of Fisheries · Global

This study attempted to optimize aquaponics culture conditions for water spinach and freshwater prawns, comparing their growth performance in soil, aquaponics, aquarium, and hydroponics units. Water spinach showed significant growth in the aquaponics setup compared to hydroponics, but less than in soil units. Freshwater prawns also recorded significantly higher growth in the aquaponics unit compared to the aquarium unit.

José Luis Villalpando, Daniel Francisco Chi-Maas, Itzel López‐Rosas, Víctor Ángel Aquino-Luna, Jesús Arreola-Enríquez, Julia Cristel Alcudia-Pérez, Gilberto Matos-Pech, Roberto Carlos Gómez-García, Jesús Froylán Martínez-Puc, William Cetzal‐Ix · Agriculture · Global

This study evaluated a backyard system using 50cm × 50cm pinewood boxes for maize and peanut over nine months. Approximately 213 kg of organic residues were converted into 300 kg of mature compost, and plant development was compared between compost and control conditions. Correlation analyses of morphological properties showed that nutrient effects were positively associated with crop morphology, with maize yields of 9 kg/m2 in compost conditions and 6.6 kg/m2 in control, and peanut yields of 184 g/m2 in compost and 73 g/m2 in control.

Arini Al Ifah, Ila Purnamasari, Zahwa Ayu Wardani, Puguh Bintang Pamungkas · Agroteknika · Indonesia

The effectiveness of liquid organic fertilizer (POC) made from household vegetable waste on the growth and yield of microgreen spinach (Amaranthus tricolor) was investigated using a completely randomized design with four treatments and three replications. Various POC treatments (derived from spinach, potato, and water spinach) showed no significant difference in the growth and yield of microgreen spinach. The treatment without POC, using well water, showed optimal growth patterns and yields compared to the application of various POCs.

Ulfi Andrian Sari, Hayyun Lathifaty Yasri, Azizatur Rahmah · AKSIOLOGIYA Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat · Indonesia (Purwantoro)

In Purwantoro RW 5, Indonesia, a wick system hydroponics training program was implemented using the ABCD (asset-based community development) method. The program focused on utilizing terrace land and targeted RW 5 administrators and PKK mothers. A survey found that 52% of participants understood the training as "good" and 48% as "very good"; 84% "strongly agreed" that hydroponics is an alternative for farming in narrow spaces, and 72% "strongly agreed" it can address food security.

Meike Rombach, David Dean, Tim Baird, Jacob Kambuta · Foods · United States

This study investigated factors determining US consumer preferences for growing and processing horticultural products (fruit, vegetables, wine, beer) versus buying them, both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using PLS-SEM, findings showed that engagement with horticulture pre- and post-pandemic influenced preferences for growing/processing, and this engagement was significantly impacted by attitudes towards US growers. Attitudes towards COVID-19 and human values like self-enhancement, conservation, and self-transcendence were also significant, but openness to change was not.

Tassha Junaidi, Setyono Yudo Tyasmoro · PLANTROPICA Journal of Agricultural Science · Indonesia

This research, conducted from October to December 2020 at Greenhouse CV. Kurnia Kitri Ayu in Indonesia, investigated the effect of 10 combinations of planting media (soil, roasted husk) and goat manure doses on lettuce growth and yield using a Randomized Block Design. The study found that combinations of planting media and goat manure supported lettuce growth more effectively than media without these additions. Specifically, treatment P7 (Soil and Roasted Husk 2:1 + 75g goat manure) yielded the highest average weight of 44.67g and economic weight of 40.67g.

Universidad de Guadalajara, Ofelia Barrios Vargas, María Lourdes Rebolledo García, Adán Rubio Cuevas · GESPYE Gestión Pública y Empresarial · Mexico

This study diagnosed urban gardens in Lázaro Cárdenas de Ocampo, Michoacán, Mexico, identifying private and community gardens and a 20% increase in gardens in 2020 compared to the previous year. A cross-sectional study with on-site interviews, recordings, and photographs was conducted. The findings suggest that urban gardens served as occupational therapy and family integration during COVID-19 confinement, demonstrating promising resilience in the population.

Yoon Sup Cheong · Journal of Cultural Product & Design · South Korea

Against the backdrop of limited land for greening in cities, this paper proposes the design of a multifunctional garden box capable of both soil-based and hydroponic cultivation, providing sufficient soil depth and sustained water supply for container planting. It describes mold design and injection-molding production for mass manufacture, along with various sales and distribution methods. The conclusion raises the issues of coexistence with existing farmers and the safety of edible plant production under urban air pollution.

Dwi Haryanta, Tatuk Tojibatus Sa’adah, Rudianto Rudianto · Jurnal Agroteknologi Merdeka Pasuruan · Indonesia

A 2022 factorial experiment in Indonesia examines the use of urban sediment/sludge and urban organic waste compost as growing media for mustard greens (Brassica rapa var. parachinensis) in an urban farming system. With sediment source (river, reservoir, roadside gutter, versus a garden-soil control) as one factor and urban compost concentration (10%, 20%, 30%, versus no compost) as the other, the experiment found no interaction between the two factors, but sediment source had a significant effect on growth and yield, with roadside-gutter sediment performing best, and compost addition also had a significant effect, with 20% (v/v) being the optimal ratio.

Darwati Susilastuti · BERDIKARI · Indonesia (Jakarta)

A community-service report on integrated urban farming on about 1,600 square meters under the Becakayu toll road in Cipinang Melayu RW01, East Jakarta, run by local farmers, a youth group (Karang Taruna), and PKK (Family Welfare Movement) women, covering hydroponics, catfish and tilapia farming, chicken and dove raising, and horticulture. The operation had previously been partial, conventional and unproductive on infertile fill land without using local resources as farm inputs; after introducing methods to turn turi (Sesbania) leaves and other local materials into liquid organic fertilizer (POC), botanical pesticide, and feed supplements, the activity measurably increased yields, cut costs, and shortened harvest time.