Research & reports

· Agronomy · United Kingdom

Assesses waste almond shells and a recycled plastic drainage plank as sustainable hydroponic media alternatives to perlite, evaluating physicochemical properties and lettuce germination and greenhouse growth.

Mohan S. V. · Materials Circular Economy · India

A case study treating urban organic waste as a resource in urban biocycles, presenting the keyhole garden as a practical decentralized urban-farming method integrating circular-economy and regenerative principles.

· 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.

Muhammad Mumtaz Khan, Muhammad Tahir Akram, Rhonda Janke, Rashad Qadri, Abdullah M. Al‐Sadi, Aitazaz A. Farooque · Sustainability · Global

This study reviews contemporary urban horticulture, illustrating traditional and innovative developments, as a response to global concerns about food supply and environmental protection in urban settings, exacerbated by factors like population growth and the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights how current urban cropping systems can be enhanced with modern techniques like vertical gardening and hydroponics. These methods are presented as eco-friendly, energy-saving, and capable of ensuring consistent fresh food supplies and more sustainable agriculture.

Nur Huzeima Mohd Hussain, Nur Hayati Hashim, Asmat Ismail · Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Environment · Global

This paper conceptually reviews the ideas, issues, and imperatives of implementing urban farming on rooftops, investigating an alternative for urban dwellers to achieve resilience. It uses comparative analysis of established texts and secondary data from cases in Singapore, Japan, USA, and Thailand. The study aims to localize the concept of rooftop urban farming and establish a conceptual discourse for its implementation in Malaysia.

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.

Monika Egerer · · Global

This chapter discusses how climate-related factors and climate change may affect the biodiversity of plants and animals in urban agroecosystems, and the ecosystem functions and services they provide. It notes that little research in urban agroecology explicitly investigates the impacts of local weather patterns or regional climate cycles on biodiversity, ecosystem functions, or service delivery. The chapter aims to bridge agricultural and urban literature to enhance understanding of social-ecological processes in urban agroecosystems during the climate change era.

Mohammad Hasan Chowdhury, Md. Fahim Sharker Eashat, Chinmoy Sarkar, Nafisa Habib Purba, Mohammad Asadul Habib, Plabon Sarkar, Lincon Chandra Shill · International Multidisciplinary Research Journal · Bangladesh (Dhaka)

Rooftop gardening for vegetable production has gained momentum in Dhaka City, Bangladesh, offering alternative spaces for urban agriculture and contributing to agricultural sustainability. While rooftop agriculture can improve ecosystem services, biodiversity, and food security, its widespread implementation is currently limited by multiple challenges. Green roofs are considered a supplement to other urban food production sources, not a total solution for food security.

Sugeng Triyono, Fadli Afrizki Surya Aditama, Elhamida Rezkia, D Dermiyati, Jamalam Lumbanraja · World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews · Indonesia

This pot experiment in Indonesia investigated the effect of medium size and organic compost dosage on the growth and yield of red lettuce. Red lettuce growth was depressed at 1kg and 3kg medium sizes but grew more freely at 5kg. The study found that the 3kg medium size with 10% compost dose yielded 75.3g per plant, which was considered the most optimum treatment due to using the least medium and compost, despite restricted growth.

Fatin Natasya Shuhaimi, Nursuriati Jamil, Raseeda Hamzah · Bulletin of Electrical Engineering and Informatics · Global

This study proposed and evaluated two Internet of Things (IoT)-based smart farming system designs for personal use in residential apartments, focusing on humidity and temperature monitoring. After comparing sensor readings (DHT 11 and DHT 22) over three days against actual environmental values, and assessing implementation costs and power consumption, the findings regarding accuracy and costs were inconclusive.

Stefan Sattler, Irene Zluwa, Doris Österreicher · Applied Sciences · Global

An interdisciplinary study developed and tested designs for integrating photovoltaic (PV) systems into rooftop gardens, focusing on retrofitting flat roofs. Prototypes were analyzed for structural design, plant choices, and energy output. The study found that concurrent integration of PVs and green roofs is achievable with lightweight construction, suitable for existing buildings, contributing to urban renewable energy, UHI mitigation, and recreational spaces.

Peileku Yikwa, Luluk Syahr Banu · Jurnal Ilmiah Respati · Indonesia

An experimental study conducted at the Greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, Respati University, Indonesia, from February to August 2019, investigated the response of chili and mustard greens polyculture in polybags to onion peel compost composting time and dose. Using a factorial completely randomized design, onion peel compost doses (0, 100, 150, 200 gr/polybag) and composting times (24, 36 hours) were examined. The results showed that applying 100 grams/polybag of 36-hour compost yielded the highest plant weight (211.25 grams) and chili fruit weight (73.25 grams) for polycultured chili and mustard greens.

Fajar Baskoro Wicaksono, Meitharisha Fakhdiyar Hasani, Pandu Yuri Pratama, Henny Yunita, Idham Riyando Moe · · Indonesia

This paper investigates rainwater harvesting as an alternative for urban agriculture in the Wanggu Catchment Area, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. It calculates the water needs for cabbage (281.15 mm/total growing period) and spinach (108.83 mm/total growing period) based on FAO standards. Simulation results indicate that with a 100 m2 rainwater catchment area, spinach can be planted more frequently (4 periods) and in a wider area (29.06 m2) compared to cabbage (2 periods, 22.51 m2).

James Worstell · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · Global

This paper examines the resilience of food systems during the COVID-19 disruption. It notes trends such as direct food delivery, online farmers markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs), backyard food production, expansion of seed producers and plant nurseries, and increased home cooking. These trends are viewed as complex adaptive systems.

Pepijn Schreinemachers, Ghassan Baliki, Rachana Manandhar Shrestha, Dhruba Raj Bhattarai, Ishwori Prasad Gautam, Puspa Lal Ghimire, Bhishma P. Subedi, Tilman Brück · Global Food Security · Nepal

A one-year cluster randomized controlled trial in Nepal (2018-2019) with 779 schoolchildren (8-12) and their caregivers across 30 schools tested the impact of combining school and home gardens on food choices. The intervention increased caregivers' food and nutrition knowledge by 26%, agricultural knowledge by 5%, liking for vegetables by 10%, and home garden productivity by 15%. For children, it had no effect on food and nutrition knowledge but increased their liking for vegetables by 6%, healthy food practices, and vegetable consumption by 15-26% across different periods.

Ahmad Shabir Hozad · Environmental Research and Technology · Thailand

This study investigated the effects of human urine as fertilizer on butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) plants in a green wall system on the AIT campus. Applied at a nitrogen loading rate of up to 0.73 g N m-2 week-1 (104.28 mL urine m-2 week-1) for 16 weeks, urine fertilizer positively affected the food production, inflorescences, and health of butterfly pea plants, indicating it is suitable for green walls. This method could reduce campus wastewater load and save on expensive wastewater treatment.

Dedi Sudarmaji, Ruswadi Muchtar, Ayu Vandira Candra Kusumah · Jurnal Ilmiah Respati · Indonesia

This study investigated the response of pakcoy plants to liquid supplementary fertilizer in a vertical culture system. Using a Randomized Block Design with six treatments and three replications, researchers observed variables such as leaf count, leaf width, plant height, fresh weight, and dry weight. The results showed that treatment P4, with a liquid supplementary fertilizer concentration of 2.5cc/liter of water, yielded the best plant height, leaf width, leaf count, fresh weight, and dry weight for pakcoy plants.

Graham Ambrose, Kirti Das, Yingling Fan, Anu Ramaswami · Landscape and Urban Planning · United States (Minneapolis-St. Paul Area)

Emotional well-being (EWB) during household gardening and other activities was measured in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Area, USA, using an app-based Day Reconstruction Method. Among 370 participants, 118 (32%) reported engaging in household gardening. Gardening EWB ranked among the top 5 out of 15 activities for three average EWB measures and was not statistically different from biking, walking, and eating out. Average net affect of gardening was significantly higher for vegetable gardeners, low-income gardeners, and women, while companionship, race/ethnicity, and urban versus suburban location showed no significant difference.

Christiana Olusola Owolabi, Olukemi Ifetola Adediran, T.T. Joseph-Adekunle, J. G. Bodunde, O.O. Olubode · Nigerian Journal of Horticultural Science · Nigeria (Abeokuta)

A two-year study at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria, assessed the use of Purple Basil (Ocimum basilicum) in landscaping under different management practices (manuring, mulching, hedge trimming). Manuring resulted in taller plants with more branches and contributed to improved yield and hedge formation. Manured and trimmed plants yielded 2.0 kg/plot, slightly higher than manured and mulched plants (1.9 kg/plot).

Jose Benito C Ronolo, Margarita Cuadra, J. Q. Cabada, Amaya Caballero, Omar A. Tantoy · European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine · Philippines

This paper examines the impacts of COVID-19 in the Philippines by reviewing five research articles and formulating twelve policy statements across education, health and safety, and economic dimensions. For the economic dimension, recommended policies include encouraging home or urban gardening, initiating hydroponics, aquaponics, and horticulture gardening, and institutionalizing the "Farm Food Box." These policies aim to mitigate the pandemic's impacts in the Philippines.

Robert Home, Lorena Vieli · Urban forestry & urban greening · Switzerland, Chile

This study evaluated gardening motivations using a 14-item scale and questionnaires in three Swiss cities (N=409) and one Chilean city (N=167). While individual scale items showed significant differences between Swiss and Chilean responses, a principal component analysis revealed nearly identical component structures for both samples. Restoration was the strongest motivational component, followed by socialization and food production, suggesting motivations are not context-dependent.

Ady Daryanto, Muhammad Ridha Alfarabi Istiqlal, Ummu Kalsum, Ratih Kurniasih · Jurnal Agronomi Indonesia (Indonesian Journal of Agronomy) · Indonesia (Depok City)

This research evaluated the horticultural characteristics of five hybrid tomato varieties grown in a lowland greenhouse at Gunadarma University, Depok City, West Java, from October 2018 to January 2019. Tymoti and Tantyna varieties performed well, while Agatha and Ultima showed a 40% decrease in fruit size, and Rewako was unsuitable due to high flower dropping and low fruit setting. Significant differences were observed across all quantitative characters among the varieties.

Rahmawaty Rahmawaty · Journal of Saintech Transfer · Indonesia (Medan)

This activity at Khansa Kindergarten in Medan aimed to provide environmental education for early childhood by engaging students in planting various types of plants, including vegetables, ornamental plants, fruits, and medicinal plants. The activity involved preparing planting media, planting, and harvesting fast-growing vegetables. The results showed that the children were enthusiastic and happy, and the school environment became greener and more beautiful with the increased vegetation.

Fernando Marcelo Cardozo, Ramiro Bastos · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil

An experiment conducted in Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil, between 2016 and 2019, involved over 40 events focused on constructing spiral herb beds in various city neighborhoods. These events, structured as permacultural workshops, aimed to transmit knowledge and stimulate knowledge exchange among participants. Lectures covered topics such as agroecology, urban agriculture, ancestral peoples, and community gardens, using technical, popular, and artistic languages to engage diverse audiences.