Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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385 results(3 / 16)
The Soil Moisture Monitoring Utilize IoT System To Improve Urban Farming Productivity and Enhance Food Security
2025Mukhamad Kasendra, Dendy K Pramudito, Dedi Afandi · Jurnal Informasi dan Teknologi · Global
Urban farming faces technical obstacles like monitoring soil conditions and time limitations. This paper proposes using the Internet of Things (IoT) to address these issues. IoT can be utilized for real-time soil humidity monitoring via smartphones, thereby resolving current challenges and offering potential for future technological development in urban agriculture.
Digital agricultureFood sovereignty & justiceDIYThe Role of Minor Mediterranean Fruit Trees in Sustainable Residential Landscaping: A Longitudinal Perspective
2025Mümüne Selen Abbasoğlu, İbrahim Kahramanoğlu · HortScience · Global
This study explored the role of minor Mediterranean fruit trees in sustainable residential landscapes by examining their presence, selection criteria, and long-term trends in home gardens. Data from structured surveys of 400 homeowners revealed olive (60.3%) and pomegranate (50.0%) as the most prevalent species. Older gardens (40+ years) exhibited greater biodiversity, while newer gardens prioritized easier-to-maintain and aesthetically appealing species. Overall, the study indicated a gradual shift from traditional Mediterranean fruit trees to monotonous, low-maintenance gardens.
DIYBiodiversityClimate changeSustainable Urban Farming: Effects of Organic Manure on Lettuce Growth and Soil Fertility
2025Salsabilla Dewi Satriani, Yulian Yulian, Nanik Setyowati, Supanjani Supanjani, Kartika Utami · Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research · Global
This experimental study evaluated the effects of chicken and goat manure (five application levels) on lettuce growth and yield under urban organic farming conditions. Goat manure significantly (p < 0.01) enhanced all growth and yield parameters compared with chicken manure, which had no significant effect due to its high C/N ratio and immature composition. Optimal performance was observed at 30–40 tons ha⁻¹ of goat manure, with 30 tons ha⁻¹ identified as the most efficient rate.
Organic cycleDIYThe Significance of Hobby Gardens in Urban Agriculture: A Bibliometric Mapping of Thematic Structures and Future Potentials
2025Deniz Çağla Bal, Independent Reseacher, Osman Kaan Inan, Yusuf Çakmakçı · International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Agricultural Research · Global
This study aims to reveal the intellectual structure, main themes, and research trajectories of academic literature on hobby gardens using bibliometric analysis and scientific mapping methods. Analyses of articles from the Scopus database covering 1989–2025 show that the unifying element of hobby gardening is based on the concepts of “gardening” and “human.” The main driving force of the field was determined to be social and human dynamics such as “leisure time” and gender, indicating that hobby gardening research focuses on its role in human well-being, social life, and community interaction rather than a technical or agricultural focus.
DIYFood educationCommunityURBAN AGRICULTURE AND VERTICAL FARMING: HYBRID MODELS FOR FOOD PRODUCTION, RESOURCE EFFICIENCY, AND COMMUNITY HEALTH
2025Faran Muhammad, Muneeba, Muhammad Bilal · Gomal Journal of Agriculture and Biology · Global
This paper explored hybrid approaches to urban agriculture combining vertical farming and rooftop gardening. Experimental pilot hybrid systems installed in certain metropolitan regions showed significant improvements in yield per unit area, water-use efficiency, and energy-use efficiency compared to normal rooftop gardens. Qualitative assessments highlighted positive community-level outcomes, including greater dietary diversity, better comprehension of sustainable food habits, and a rise in wellness and health perception.
DIYCommunityHealthClimate changeDigital agricultureDesign and evaluation of a solar powered smart irrigation system for sustainable urban agriculture
2025Mahmoud A. Abdelhamid, Tarek Kh. Abdelkader, Hassan A. A. Sayed, Zhao Zhang, Xiaohui Zhao, Mohamed F. Atia · Scientific Reports · Global
This study aimed to advance sustainable urban agriculture by designing and evaluating a solar-powered smart rooftop irrigation system for peppermint cultivation. The smart system reduced water and energy consumption by 28.1% compared to conventional irrigation, and also achieved a notable reduction in CO2 emissions from 0.252 kg CO₂/m²/year to 0.181 kg CO₂/m²/year. Economic analysis demonstrated a payback period of 5.6 years, highlighting its financial viability.
Digital agricultureClimate changeDIYRooftop Garden, A Way for Food and Nutrition Security for The Semi-Urban City of Pabna, Bangladesh
2025Taslima Arzu, Md. Ariful Kabir Sujan, S.M. Symon Bappy, Rupam Mitra, Suparna Das Toma, Vulon Prosad · Plant Science Archives · Bangladesh
This study surveyed 62 household and rooftop garden owners in Pabna City, Bangladesh, to examine the benefits of rooftop gardening. Findings indicate that rooftop gardens reduced household waste by an average of 887.1g and met 41% of fertilizer demand by using biodegradable waste. Participants reported improved psychological well-being (83.9%) and increased vigor (77.4%), with anxiety and depression reduced or neutral. Rooftop gardening generated an average yearly income of 14,750 BDT, with a net income of 1293.5 BDT, and provided 387.5 kg of fruits and vegetables for household consumption, proving to be a profitable activity.
DIYCompostElderlyHealthCurrent Trends in CRISPR‐Cas System Based Genome Editing in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
2025Sreekumar Anand, Ravindran Lalithambika Visakh, B. K. Shrithar Bhalaji, Parvathy, N. Vishnu Swaroop Reddy, Athulya Rajasekharan · Plant Breeding · Global
This review focuses on the strategy, mechanism, and recent upgradations of CRISPR-Cas system-based genome editing. In tomato breeding, a limited genetic base presents hurdles, and CRISPR-Cas genome editing has been used to improve fruit quality and yield, increase stress resistance, promote wild tomato domestication, and tailor varieties for urban farming. This technology offers precise genome editing, low off-target mutations, efficiency, adaptability, and cost-effectiveness, and has been effectively utilized in tomato crop improvement.
Digital agricultureDIYLandscape, urban gardening, and aesthetics
2025Mateusz Salwa · · Global
This chapter discusses contemporary urban gardening practices as an activity interpretable as a model for how people should design and manage their landscapes. Gardening is presented as driven by an "aesthetics of care," arguing for a new paradigm in landscape aesthetics that should no longer be associated with aesthetic appreciation. Instead, it should be conceived as related to human engagement in and with the landscape.
DIYCommunityFood educationDesign and implementation of outdoor home smart farming based on raspberry pi for home assistant management
2025Mohd Nazmin Maslan, Izzat Rafaie Ramli, Muhammad Hafidz Fazli Md Fauadi, Mohd Erdi Ayob, Mohamad Faizal Baharom, Ihwan Ghazali, Tia Tanjung · Multidisciplinary Science Journal · Global
This study designed and implemented an outdoor home smart farming system using Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, ESP32, sensors, and Home Assistant software to address challenges like limited skills and resources. The system efficiently monitored and analyzed farming parameters, resulting in water usage of only 0.16% and energy consumption of 0.64% compared to daily household use. It also reduced water usage for watering by up to 82.45%, demonstrating its capability to optimize resource use and enhance crop productivity.
DIYDigital agricultureClimate changeBalcony Environmental Monitoring & Plant Recommendation System Using IoT and Machine Learning
2025Pratham Kawade -, Mrunal Karkar -, Ritisha Mittal -, Neha Sathe · International Journal on Science and Technology · Global
This system utilizes an ESP32 microcontroller connected to DHT11 and soil moisture sensors to capture real-time data on temperature, humidity, and soil wetness. Data transmitted via MQTT protocol to a Flask-based web server is processed by a RandomForestClassifier model, trained on twelve sequential readings per sensor, to suggest the top five crops and monitor plant health against predefined optimal thresholds. Alerts are generated when deviations are detected, and the system is deployed on cloud platforms like Render.
DIYDigital agricultureClimate changeFood sovereignty & justiceIOT Enables Remote Control Smart Garden with Solar System
2025V. Lakshmi Srinija, M Raju, P. Srinu Vasarao · International Research Journal on Advanced Engineering and Management (IRJAEM) · Global
This paper presents the design and implementation of an IoT-enabled remote control smart garden powered by a solar energy system. The system automates essential gardening tasks such as irrigation, soil moisture monitoring, temperature and humidity control, and real-time surveillance, operating independently of conventional power sources. Through sensors and a cloud platform, users can remotely monitor and control garden operations via a mobile or web application.
Digital agricultureDIYCommunityClimate changeSMART GARDENING THROUGH AI-INTEGRATED IOT: A FRAMEWORK FOR INTELLIGENT MONITORING AND AUTOMATED CONTROL
2025Zakhro Sodikova · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Global
This research proposes an AI-based IoT approach for intelligent monitoring, prediction, and automation in smart gardens. The system includes distributed environment sensors, an edge processing unit for real-time processing and decision support, and a cloud-based machine learning module for prediction and optimization. The AI-driven system attained better prediction accuracy for soil moisture estimation and used considerably less water than traditional rule-based irrigation, without compromising plant health.
DIYCommunityDigital agricultureDemystifying the integration of hydroponics cultivation system reinforcing bioeconomy and sustainable agricultural growth
2025Anwesha Chatterjee, Proma Ghosh, Bastian Winkler, V Vijayaragavan, Sanjit Debnath, Jedrzej Cichocki, Marielle Trenkner, Bilitis Vanicela, Christoph Riethmueller, Monte Walz, Suhrid Chandra, Harshata Pal · Scientia Horticulturae · Global
This in-depth review explores the integration of hydroponics cultivation systems, reinforcing bioeconomy and sustainable agricultural growth. Hydroponics is a promising urban farming approach due to its high resource-use and land-use efficiency, enabling year-round production of high-quality fresh foods with less water, nutrients, and pesticides compared to soil-based methods. Recent studies focus on optimizing hydroponics for biofortification in indoor cultivation and integrating municipal wastewater treatment for nutrient and water recovery.
DIYUrban–rural linkageClimate changeEffectiveness of Facebook groups in enhancing the capacity of rooftop gardeners
2025Khondokar H. Kabir, Jannatul Ferdows, Saifur Rahman, Ataharul Chowdhury, Md. Asaduzzaman Sarker, S.M. Asik Ullah, Mohammed Nasir Uddin, Mohammad Maruf Hasan · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Bangladesh
An online survey of 120 rooftop gardeners in Bangladesh investigated the extent to which Facebook groups support information needs and enhance capacity. Findings indicate that information sharing in Facebook groups assists in planning, acquiring and utilizing resources, carrying out intercultural operations, and determining optimal harvesting and storage practices. Facebook can play a significant role in bridging the information gap among rooftop gardeners and enhancing their skills.
DIYCommunityFood educationDigital agricultureOpen-Source Indoor Horizontal Grow Structure Designs
2024Qian J., Pearce J. M. · Designs · Global
Applies the distributed-manufacturing open-source design paradigm to develop four low-cost open-source grow-structure designs targeting root vegetables and bush fruit. The designs are intended for adoption by remote communities with limited or no outdoor growing environment.
DIYCommunityResidential Rooftop Urban Agriculture: Architectural Design Recommendations
2024· Sustainability · Global
Provides architectural design recommendations for residential rooftop urban agriculture. It addresses integrating low-cost growing infrastructure such as container gardens, raised beds, and vertical gardens onto rooftops.
DIYPolicyEnhancing food security through keyhole gardening in Lesotho
2024· Journal of Development Effectiveness · Lesotho
Examines enhancing food security through keyhole gardening, a circular raised-bed structure with a central compost basket. This self-built growing structure was developed by humanitarian organizations to promote household food production in drought-prone settings.
DIYCommunityWelfareMunicipal Solid Waste Management in a Decentralized Composting Scenario: Assessment of the Process Reproducibility and Quality of the Obtained Composts
2024· Agronomy · Global
Assesses the reproducibility of the composting process and the quality of composts obtained under a decentralized municipal solid waste composting scenario.
DIYCompostCommunitySelection and evaluation of optimal medium for Eisenia fetida in sustainable waste recycling
2024· Discover Animals · Global
Selects and evaluates the optimal medium for the earthworm Eisenia fetida in sustainable waste recycling.
DIYCompostIntegration of IoT in Small-Scale Aquaponics to Enhance Efficiency and Profitability: A Systematic Review
2024· Animals · Global
A systematic review arguing that integrating IoT into small-scale aquaponics enhances efficiency and profitability by optimizing resource use and monitoring water quality.
DIYEconomicsA low-cost spectroscopic nutrient management system for Microscale Smart Hydroponic system
2024Stevens J.D., Murray D., Diepeveen D., Toohey D. · PLOS ONE · Australia
A novel inexpensive nutrient management system is presented that uses a waterproofed low-cost IoT spectroscopy sensor (AS7265x) submerged in the solution to predict nutrients and recommend adjustment amounts.
DIYUsing Recycled Construction Waste Materials with Varying Components and Particle Sizes for Extensive Green Roof Substrates: Assessment of Its Effects on Vegetation Development
2024· Sustainability · Global
Evaluates crushed brick and crushed concrete of varying particle sizes as extensive green roof substrates through simulated drought and rooftop experiments, turning low-value construction waste into a growing resource.
DIYOrganic cycleGreen Roof Systems within the Framework of a Circular Economy: A Scoping Review
2024· Recycling · Global
A scoping review of 68 open-access articles from 24 countries (2012–2022) mapping the reuse and recycling of alternative materials in green roof structures within a circular economy framework.
DIYOrganic cycleAssessment of Low-Cost and Higher-End Soil Moisture Sensors across Various Moisture Ranges and Soil Textures
2024· Sensors · Global
Compares the accuracy of low-cost versus higher-end soil moisture sensors across various moisture ranges and soil textures, showing that adding an ADS1115 converter improves the error of low-cost sensors.
DIYEconomics