Research & reports

· Springer (book chapter) · Villapinzón, Colombia

Examines low-cost oyster mushroom cultivation as an income- and nutrition-generating alternative for rural low-income women in Villapinzon, Colombia. Highlights mushroom growing as an accessible, low-capital livelihood option.

· Applications in Plant Sciences · Global

GMpi, a low-cost growth-environment monitoring system built from a Raspberry Pi, open-source software, inexpensive environmental sensors and a camera that automates readings, imaging and out-of-range alerts, and is customizable and scalable.

Hernández López A., Avila Alejandre A.X., Mendoza Francisco N., Hernández López H. · Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agrícolas · Mexico

Design, construction and testing of a low-cost seed germinator built from locally available materials that automatically controls temperature and photoperiod, with an Arduino Uno temperature verifier; total cost about US$58, competitive with commercial germinators.

Maucieri C., Nicoletto C., Zanin G., Birolo M., Trocino A., Sambo P., Borin M., Xiccato G. · PLOS ONE · Italy

In a low-tech aquaponic system, two fish stocking densities were compared for their effects on water quality, European carp growth and leafy vegetable yield; the lower density (2.5 kg/m3) improved water quality and production.

· Irrigation Science · Australia

Glasshouse experiment investigating wicking bed irrigation for shallow-rooted crops, examining lettuce and two radish varieties.

Jha Ritesh Kumar, Bhattarai Natasha, KC Suraj, Shrestha Arjun Kumar, Kadariya Manahar · Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Agricultural · Nepal

This research inspected existing practices and obstacles in rooftop farming in Nagdhungha and Birauta, Nepal. Two practitioners were interviewed and 60 non-practitioners were surveyed. Results show that rooftop farming can benefit the environment by reducing atmospheric carbon and assist urban areas by reducing stormwater management costs, with a high willingness to practice rooftop farming among urban dwellers.

Rizal Hadyan Fadhlillah, Sophia Dwiratna, Kharistya Amaru · Jurnal Pertanian Tropik/Jurnal Online Pertanian Tropik · Indonesia

This descriptive study, conducted on a rooftop at Padjadjaran University, investigated the performance of a floating raft fertigation system for water spinach cultivation over one growth period (16 days after transplanting). It measured water, nutrient, and electricity consumption, finding 300.63 liters of water, 3860 ml of nutrients, and 31.816 kW of electricity. The study reported good growth uniformity, 99.6 kg/m3 water use efficiency, and 72.8 kg/m2 plant productivity.

Talia Talita Sehn, Cassiano Peixoto Rosa, Andersson Daniel Steffler, Daiane Karina Grellmann, Divanilde Guerra · · Brazil (Tres Passos)

The objective was to identify cultivated species and their management, and to disseminate agroecological practices in domestic gardens and orchards in the urban perimeter of Tres Passos-RS, Brazil. Over two years, 177 residences were visited in the first year, with 165 (95%) having orchards and 147 (87%) having vegetable gardens. In the second year, 12 residences were visited, all (100%) cultivating vegetables and 10 (75%) having fruit trees.

Brian Doucet · Technology and Culture · United States (Detroit)

Kimberley Kinder's book, "DIY Detroit: Making Do in a City without Services," ethnographically documents how Detroit residents engage in self-provisioning strategies to address voids in safety, municipal services, and development. The book details six strategies, including acting as informal realtors, defensive architecture for vacant homes, and repurposing vacant properties for urban gardening, often in "gray spaces" abandoned by landowners and neglected by officials.

Odiney Alvarez‐Campos, Gregory K. Evanylo · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · United States

This field study in Blacksburg, VA, investigated the effects of exceptional quality (EQ) biosolids on urban soil properties and vegetable yield over two years (2016-2018). Biosolids increased soil carbon storage by 37-84% compared to controls, but soil nitrogen availability was lower than expected. Reclamation rates of biosolids resulted in higher yields for cabbage (∼3.1 kg m⁻²) and Siberian kale (∼1.1 kg m⁻²) than inorganic fertilizer (1.0 kg m⁻² and 0.4 kg m⁻² respectively) in fall 2017, indicating potential to increase vegetable yield despite limiting soil conditions.

A. Pardini, Furio Massolino, Chiara Grassi · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Global

In urban agriculture in developing areas, Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. is a promising strategic species due to its low water and soil fertility requirements and its edible entirety. This study conducted a trial comparing the initial productivity of cladodes multiplied in pots, car tires, and open fields. Results suggest that the prickly pear can be cropped better in large exhausted tires than in small plots, also saving money on materials.

Wachdijono Wachdijono, Siti Wahyuni, Umi Trisnaningsih · QARDHUL HASAN MEDIA PENGABDIAN KEPADA MASYARAKAT · Indonesia (Cirebon City)

A community service program in Kalijaga Village, Cirebon City, Indonesia, aimed to enhance PKK members' knowledge and skills in verticultural and hydroponic vegetable cultivation. Through training, including counseling, demonstrations, and practice, participants' knowledge improved, with those initially unfamiliar with verticulture gaining understanding. The program encouraged participants to practice verticulture and hydroponics in their own homes.

Luiza Oliveira Kossatz, Luciana Adelmann · Anais do EVINCI - UniBrasil · Brazil (Paraná)

This work aims to disseminate the concept of urban agriculture by raising awareness of environmental education's benefits for human development. It proposes adopting gardens made from recycled/reusable materials and utilizing endemic Paraná plant species, known as Non-Conventional Food Plants (PANC), that can be cultivated in vertical gardens and serve as food. The research intends to highlight the need to preserve local biodiversity and reduce urban pollution.

Debbie Méndez, Julio Quintini · · Austria (Vienna)

This project proposes a simple 7-step methodology for urban agriculture, based on the experience of a Venezuelan family participating in a community garden in Vienna, Austria, for two years. The methodology aims to enable urban residents to create sustainable communities, improve nutrition with fresh produce, and generate economic gains and better quality of life. It draws on successful urban agriculture experiences globally and aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 2, 11, and 13.

Indayati Lanya, Ni Made Trigunasih, AI Nyoman Sunarta, I Dewa made Arthagama · Buletin Udayana Mengabdi · Indonesia (Denpasar)

On July 13, 2019, a training program on potted fruit and vegetable cultivation techniques was conducted in Denpasar City for 40 members of the Dasa Wisma Agropertiwi group. The training, which included instruction and demonstrations of cultivation methods, enhanced participants' knowledge and skills. Participants showed enthusiasm and requested additional training on organic fertilizer production.

박재현, 윤용한, 이재만, 송희연, 주진희 · · Global

This study investigated the effects of non-woven fabric layers on the growth and adaptability of Tropaeolum majus in a container-type wall vertical greening system under non-water conditions. Researchers found that four layers of non-woven fabric maintained the highest soil water content and generally promoted better morphological properties and chlorophyll content compared to fewer layers. However, shoot fresh weight was highest with three layers, and flowering characteristics showed no significant difference among treatments, with overall growth being best in the three-layer treatment.

Hyung-Kweon Kim, Young-Sun Ryou, Younghwa Kim, Tae-Seok Lee, Sung-Sik Oh, Won Suk Lee, Yong-Hyeon Kim · Protected horticulture and Plant Factory · South Korea

This study analyzed design factors for small greenhouses suitable for urban agriculture in South Korea and developed structural models. Preferred dimensions for urban farmers were 3-4m width, 1.8-2m side height, 2.5-3m ridge height, and 4-7m length. The study proposed four structural models, including an arched vinyl greenhouse and gable-roofed glass or PC panel greenhouses, categorized into standard (approx. 2 million KRW) and premium (approx. 5 million KRW) types.

Halus Satriawan, Irfannur Irfannur, Zikri Maulina Gaznur, Eka Rahmı, Ajmir Akmal · VARIASI Majalah Ilmiah Universitas Almuslim · Indonesia

A community service activity was conducted on September 1, 2019, in BTN Kupula Indah, Kota Juang, Bireuen Regency, Aceh Province, Indonesia. The activity involved demonstrations, practical training, and counseling on tabulampot (potted fruit plants) cultivation techniques for urban perennial plants. The findings indicated that this training successfully enhanced the community's skills in tabulampot planting and increased their knowledge for utilizing yard space and developing tabulampot entrepreneurship.

Ahmad Yani, Rizki Alfian, Irawan Setyabudi · Fakultas Pertanian · Indonesia

This qualitative descriptive study in Cemorokandang residential areas, Malang City, aimed to determine public perception of verticultural techniques for urban agriculture, addressing the lack of agricultural land due to population density. The study designed community home gardens with vegetables and flowers in various forms, including vertical gardens, to provide aesthetic value and economic support for urban agriculture. The findings suggest these designs can increase both aesthetic and economic value for urban communities.

J. Ochoa, Esther Sanyé‐Mengual, Kathrin Specht, J.A. Fernández, S. Bañón, Francesco Orsini, F. Magrefi, Giovanni Giorgio Bazzocchi, Severin Halder, Doerte Martens, Noémi Kappel, Giorgio Gianquinto · Sustainability · Europe

A user needs analysis conducted in Berlin, Bologna, Budapest, and Cartagena, Europe, evaluated training requirements for participants in community gardens. The results revealed a need to reinforce training during the formation and community building phases of community gardens, particularly for top-down activities. Users expressed a need for training in crop management skills, such as maintenance and organic practices, and communication skills to disseminate their activities.

gökçe öcal · Journal of Planning · Turkey (Istanbul)

This study focuses on the Roma Garden, one of Istanbul's last remaining urban gardens, within the context of "DIY urbanism." In Istanbul, historical gardens are threatened by municipal policies favoring urban development, leading to the formation of "DIY" urban gardens on public land since 2013. These gardens operate without legal ties to the local state, and the destruction of urban public space over the last decade is noted as having paved the way for DIY public gardens as spaces of solidarity and shared knowledge.

Anna Boneta, Martí Rufí-Salís, Mireia Ercilla‐Montserrat, Xavier Gabarrell, Joan Rieradevall · Frontiers in Plant Science · Spain (Barcelona)

This study analyzed an 18 m2 polyculture rooftop soilless urban home garden in Barcelona city center from 2015 to 2017 to estimate its degree of self-sufficiency and sustainability. A total productivity of 10.6 kg/m2/year was achieved, estimating that 5.3 m2 would be needed to fulfill the yearly vegetable requirements of an average citizen. While a high degree of self-sufficiency was achieved, fertilizers and their associated leachates accounted for the highest environmental impacts in all studied categories.

Mahmuda Islam, Abdullah Al Nayeem, Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, Khandokar Tanjim Elahi · Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Agricultural · Bangladesh (Dhaka)

A study investigated the present status of rooftop gardening in four selected residential areas of Dhaka City, Bangladesh. Plot-to-plot interviews using questionnaires were conducted across 1376 buildings in Dhanmondi, 391 in Lalmatia, 272 in Mohakhali DOHS, and 697 in Uttara 13 no. Sector. The study found that 39.1%, 59.2%, 36.6%, and 22.2% of buildings in these locations, respectively, had rooftop gardening, with nearly one-third (36.4%) of buildings overall containing rooftop gardening.

Pedro López Labarta, José Luis Montejo Viamontes, Yacelis Cárdenas García, Dimeri Piñeiro Esquivel, Diosmaris de la Caridad Vasallo Cristia, Amaury Rondón Aquilar · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Cuba

This research, conducted in the Ernesto Che Guevara intensive orchard in Esmeralda municipality, Cuba, from December 2016 to March 2017, compared different bioorganic nutrition alternatives and their influence on growth and yield indicators in carrot cultivation. Using a completely randomized experimental design with five treatments and three repetitions, plant height, root length, and yield were evaluated. Fortified liquid humus and liquid humus enriched with boron, calcium, and zinc yielded the best agronomic indicators and the greatest economic benefits compared to natural liquid humus and the control.

Jan Vávra, Petr Daněk, Petr Jehlička, Miloslav Lapka · · Czech Republic

An analysis of large-scale representative survey results in Czech towns and cities investigated urban gardens as a source of self-grown food. The study found that while food production in urban areas is less frequent than in rural areas, the level of self-sufficiency in urban households is similar to that in rural households. This paper presents data on the scale of urban food production and its contributions to ecosystem services and resilience.