Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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845 results(3 / 34)
A narrative review on the potential reuse of greywater for irrigation in crop production: pros and cons
2025· Sustainable Water Resources Management · Global
Narrative review of greywater reuse for crop irrigation, summarising treatment advances and positive and negative effects on postharvest quality, and the need for proper treatment to reduce heavy metals and microbial loads.
DIYHealthpicoSMMS: Development and Validation of a Low-Cost and Open-Source Soil Moisture Monitoring Station
2025Kootanoor Sheshadrivasan V., Langhammer J., Scheiffele L., Terschlüsen J., Francke T. · Sensors · Germany
Develops an open-source, off-grid, low-cost soil moisture monitoring station (picoSMMS) built from consumer electronics and programmed in MicroPython, and performs unit-specific calibration of a popular low-cost capacitive sensor (DFRobot SEN0193).
DIYEconomicsSustainable Futures
2025Annamaria Alabiso, Giorgio Buratti, Fiammetta Costa, Matteo Meraviglia, Luciana Migliore, Attilio Nebuloni · · Global
A transdisciplinary research project investigated reusing treated kitchen wastewater for irrigating edible vegetable production in households. The project developed a prototype with an engineered biological filter to reuse dishwasher wastewater for growing vegetables and ornamental plants for domestic use. This approach aims to reduce water and fertilizer consumption, enabling the production of healthy, safe, and local food.
DIYOrganic cycleClimate changeFood sovereignty & justicePortable Minapadi Model and Its Performance for Urban Farming
2025Baskoro Tri Julianto, Budi Indra Setiawan, Satyanto Krido Saptomo, Liyantono Liyantono · Jurnal Keteknikan Pertanian · Indonesia
This study in Indonesia developed and tested a portable Minapadi (paddy and fish) culture model for urban farming over one season (99 days). The model, using automatic irrigation without electricity, showed an irrigation water consumption of 738 mm with 54% efficiency. It achieved land productivity of 3.62 tons/ha for rice and water productivity of 0.96 kg/m³, with a fish survival rate of 85% and total production of 3.34 kg. The model generated a total revenue of IDR44,044.76/m³.
DIYEconomicsUrban–rural linkageProgram Urban Farming sebagai Usaha Pemanfaatan Lahan Pekarangan untuk Ketahanan Pangan Lokal Masyarakat Karimunjawa
2025Sriyanto Sriyanto, Eva Banowati, Edi Kurniawan, Fikri Amrullah, Ervando Tommy Al-Hanif · Society Jurnal Pengabdian dan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat · Indonesia (Karimunjawa)
This participatory urban farming program in Karimunjawa, Indonesia, aimed to improve community welfare and food security by empowering village women and youth to utilize their yards. Through socialization, training, and mentoring in techniques like polybag farming and composting, the program increased community farming skills. Evaluation via surveys, interviews, and observations showed most participants successfully applied techniques, producing food for consumption and experiencing economic benefits and improved food availability.
Food educationCommunityWelfareEconomicsCompostDIYEnhancing Youth Agricultural Literacy with Vertical Farming in Non-Formal Education Settings
2025Adhisty Puri Damayanti, Norbertus Citra Irawan, Natalia Deswita Fitriyani, Zainal Mustofa, Agustina Tri Suryaningsih, Dewi Permatasari · Journal of Community Capacity Empowerment · Global
A community service program at PKBM Cahaya Rejeki involved 20 students in hands-on workshops to build vertical gardens using recycled materials. The program aimed to improve urban youth's understanding of vertical agriculture in non-formal settings. A Wilcoxon Matched-Pairs Signed-Rank Test showed a statistically significant increase in students' agricultural knowledge, supported by field observations of increased enthusiasm and confidence.
Food educationCommunityDIYGrowing your own food in small urban spaces
2025Shanurasab K Nadaf, VR Yadahalli, Bebijan Nadaf · International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry Research · Global
This review explores the motivations and practical strategies for growing food in small urban spaces, addressing challenges like limited space and poor soil. It discusses techniques such as vertical gardening, container planting, hydroponics, and raised beds, along with crop selection and resource optimization. The article also examines challenges, success stories, and the role of technology in making urban gardening accessible.
DIYUrban–rural linkageHealthEconomicsCommunityClimate changeHomegarden (forest garden) systems and Food Forests: High Productivity on Small Areas
2025Daniel Fischer · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Europe
Homegardens, also known as forest gardens or food forests, are a diverse and sustainable agroforestry model that mimics natural ecosystems by combining trees, shrubs, and other useful plants or small livestock. These systems are gaining popularity in Europe, particularly in Germany, the Netherlands, and Ireland, due to their high productivity and the wide range of benefits they offer on limited space. The FAO defines these systems as agrisilvopasture.
DIYCommunityBiodiversitySistema de irrigação e monitoramento de solo
2025André Luiz dos Santos, Bruno Teixeira Lima, Leonardo Cabral Ramos, Lucas Bellio Buldrini, Lucas Ferreira de Queiroz, Henrique Silva, Paulo César da Silva Emanuel, Gustavo Caravita de Andrade · DELOS Desarrollo Local Sostenible · Global
This work presents AquaGarden, an automated irrigation system with soil temperature and humidity monitoring, developed using an ESP32 microcontroller and physical sensors. Collected data is sent to a FlutterFlow mobile application connected to Firebase for cloud storage and remote management. The system aims to facilitate garden cultivation through automation, optimizing water usage and reducing manual intervention, allowing real-time monitoring and remote irrigation control.
DIYDigital agricultureClimate changeBonsai: The Science and Art of Miniature Tree Culture - A Review
2025M Jain · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Global
This review explores bonsai, the traditional Japanese art of cultivating miniature trees, as a blend of aesthetic philosophy and horticultural science. It examines the scientific principles, plant selection, propagation techniques, artistic styles, ecological value, and modern advancements in bonsai cultivation. The review also emphasizes bonsai's role in sustainable urban horticulture and environmental education, highlighting its ecological, aesthetic, and therapeutic benefits.
DIYFood educationBiodiversityPerilaku Konsumen Dalam Mengadopsi Limbah Ternak Untuk Pertanian Rumah Tangga Berbasis Urban Farming: Studi Pada Pemanfaatan Pupuk Organik Di Wilayah Perkotaan
2025I Putu Gede Didik Widiarta, Dinar Anindyasari, Taufan Purwokusumaning Daru · Jurnal Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis · Indonesia (Bontang City)
This quantitative study surveyed 220 urban farming respondents in Bontang City, Indonesia, to analyze consumer behavior in adopting livestock waste as organic fertilizer for household agriculture. While knowledge (β=0.58; p<0.01) and environmental impact perception (β=0.47; p<0.05) significantly influenced adoption, major barriers included negative perceptions of livestock waste odor (62%) and limited access to processing technology (45%). These findings highlight significant challenges to the widespread adoption of organic fertilizers from livestock waste in urban areas.
Limited or null effectOrganic cycleDIYEconomicsPlanning and evaluation of rooftop garden designs: A survey-based assessment study at faculty of Agriculture
2025Ahmed Abdelnaby, A. Meawad, A. Gendy, M. Abdelkader · Ornamental Horticulture · Egypt
This study, conducted in 2022-2023 at Zagazig University, Egypt, proposed and evaluated three rooftop garden designs for a college campus using 3D software, with assessments from specialists and users. Results indicated that 100% of specialists and 91.7% of users preferred flowering herbaceous plants, while trees and palms were preferred by 60% of specialists and 48.6% of users. Overall satisfaction with proposed designs for human senses ranged from 69.4% to 75.7%, and agreement on suitable recreational areas ranged from 65.8% to 78.4% among users.
DIYCommunityHome gardens – a localised nature-based solution for climate change adaptation and mitigation: a case study from the north-eastern region of India
2025Khwairakpam Nicholas, Anjali Joshi, Muthuprasad Thiyaharajan, Natalya Krishnambika · Biological Agriculture & Horticulture · India
A study in the Imphal-West district of Manipur, India, surveyed 200 households using a mixed-method approach to document home garden structure, composition, and services. Findings showed 60% of households engaged in home gardening, with an average garden size of 0.069 hectares. These home gardens provided an average annual economic yield of INR 18,700 and a 0.1 hectare garden stored 10.6 tons of carbon in trees and soil.
DIYClimate changeBiodiversityEconomicsFood educationConsumer Preferences for Urban Farming Kits Across Residential Categories: Evidence from Hyderabad, Telangana, India
2025G Nanditha, Mukesh Ramagoni, Ch. Srilatha, K. Supriya · Archives of Current Research International · India (Hyderabad)
Consumer preferences for urban farming kits and services were analyzed across residential categories in Hyderabad, India, from April to June 2025. Data was collected from 120 households across four city zones using a structured questionnaire. Two main preference dimensions were identified: Kit Value and Flexibility, and User Convenience, with preferences varying by housing type.
DIYEconomicsDigital agricultureModeling phenolic compound distribution of flaxseed in the Sobat River Floodplain
2025Francisco Dela Cruz, Corazon Magno, Reynaldo Soriano · International Journal of Horticulture and Food Science · Global
This research modeled phenolic compound distribution in eight flaxseed genotypes cultivated in the Sobat River Floodplain during the 2023 season. Total phenolic content ranged from 8.4 to 16.7 mg gallic acid equivalents per g dry weight, with the seed coat contributing 64.2% of free phenolics. Urban gardening trials showed composting-amended substrates increased total phenolics by 13.8%. A predictive model explained 72.3% of total phenolic variance, and supply chain simulations indicated 8.6% phenolic losses over 60 days.
DIYCompostHealthPemberdayaan Masyarakat Kalurahan Baciro, Gondokusuman, Yogyakarta melalui Optimalisasi Lahan Pekarangan untuk Membangun Ketahanan Pangan
2025Wafit Dinarto, Farra Ummush Sholiha · Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Bangsa · Indonesia (Yogyakarta)
Kalurahan Baciro in Gondokusuman District, Yogyakarta City, faces challenges in food security and economic welfare due to high population density and limited open land. This program provided education and assistance to the Ngremboko Farmers Group for five months, from April to August 2025, to optimize the use of their home gardens. The activities resulted in improved skills among the farmer group members in cultivating home garden vegetables, producing organic fertilizers and botanical pesticides, and applying digital marketing.
Food sovereignty & justiceCommunityDIYEconomicsReplacing Commercial Substrate with Millicompost: A Sustainable Approach Using Different Green Wastes Combined with Millicompost for Bell Pepper Seedling Production in Urban Agriculture
2025Luiz Fernando de Sousa Antunes, André Felipe de Sousa Vaz, Giulia da Costa Rodrigues dos Santos, Talita dos Santos Ferreira, Renata Rodrigues dos Santos, Renata Alves, Jaqueline Carvalho de Almeida, M. A. de A. Leal, Maria Elizabeth Fernandes Correia · ACS Omega · Global
This study investigated millicompost as a sustainable peat-alternative substrate for bell pepper seedling production, combining it with regional agro-wastes like coconut coir, gliricidia shavings, and elephant grass. Seven novel growing media formulations were tested. Substrates S4 (33% millicompost + 33% gliricidia + 33% coconut fiber) and S8 (50% millicompost + 50% gliricidia) produced seedlings of similar quality to pure millicompost and commercial substrate.
CompostOrganic cycleDIYOptimization of Growth and Yield of Melon (Cucumis melo L.) on Rooftop through the Application of PGPR and Mycorrhizae
2025Eko Muhammad Bayu, Nur Edy Suminarti, Adi Setiawan · International Journal of Environment Agriculture and Biotechnology · Indonesia
This study in Indonesia investigated the interaction of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and mycorrhizae to optimize melon growth and yield in rooftop farming. Using a split-plot design with varying concentrations of PGPR and mycorrhizae, researchers observed significant interactions on fresh root weight, total dry weight, and fruit weight. The combination of 15 ml/L PGPR and 10 g/plant mycorrhiza increased fruit weight by up to 67% compared to controls.
DIYClimate changeEconomicsEntre mãos e mutirões: o caso da Horta Comunitária Zeferina Beiru em Salvador - BA
2025Joeli Silva de Souza, Lucas Barbosa Lima · Humanas Sociais & Aplicadas · Brazil (Salvador)
This qualitative case study investigated collective work parties ("mutirões") as an intervention strategy at the Zeferina Beiru Community Garden in Salvador, Brazil, from 2016 to 2022. The study found that mutirões were a positive strategy for the garden's creation, maintenance (2015-2019), and reactivation (2022). These collective efforts involved children, youth, and neighbors from the community and surrounding areas.
CommunityDIYInvest & investigate
2025Curnier, Sonia, Berrada, Reda · ArODES (HES-SO (https://www.hes-so.ch/)) · Netherlands (Amsterdam)
This chapter stated that creating special places in landscape architecture requires investment and investigation. It presented a spectrum of special projects, ranging from the private rooftop garden Groenmarkt in the historic center of Amsterdam, Netherlands, to the public outdoor pool Järvabadet in the multiethnic suburbs of Stockholm, Sweden.
DIYCommunityPolicyKnowledge and Perception on the Usage of Greywater for Backyard Cultivation of Native Herbs Among Residents of Ibadan North Local Government Area, Ibadan, Nigeria
2025Mumuni Adejumo · Journal of Health and Environmental Research · Nigeria (Ibadan)
This cross-sectional study surveyed 312 residents in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Nigeria, to document their knowledge and perception of using greywater for backyard cultivation of native herbs. The findings revealed that 70.7% of participants had poor knowledge about greywater and its use for cultivating local herbs, and 61% held a negative perception. Only 8% of participants reported having used greywater in their residence, with 70.8% of public servants specifically showing negative perceptions.
DIYHealthCommunityIncreasing the Capacity of KWT Barokah Through Agricultural Cultivation Innovation in Banjardowo Village, Semarang
2025Moh. Sholeh, Nanang Indardi, Khoirul Anwar, Vacktian Diva Gumala · Jurnal Abdimas · Indonesia (Semarang)
In Banjardowo Village, Semarang, urban farming-based cultivation innovations were implemented as an adaptation strategy to limited land and flood threats. This community service research aimed to increase the capacity of the Barokah Women Farmers Group (KWT) through six stages of activities, including urban farming installation and cultivation training. The activities resulted in increased knowledge and skills in horticultural cultivation among members and strengthened the group's social cohesion, proving effective in enhancing technical capacity, empowering women, and strengthening local food security.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceDIYWelfareHydro-smart: User-Configurable IoT Platform for Hydroponic Agriculture
2025Wafaa Radi · Journal of Communication Sciences and Information Technology · Global
Many existing IoT-based hydroponic control systems limit user customization due to tightly coupled hardware and software. This paper proposes Hydro-smart, a modular and user-friendly IoT platform designed for small-scale DIY enthusiasts and medium-scale urban agriculture practitioners. Hydro-smart aims to automate and optimize gardening processes, facilitate agricultural experimentation, and enable users to act as citizen scientists by simplifying experimental design and automating data collection.
Digital agricultureDIYCommunitySOSIALISASI BUDIDAYA TANAMAN HIDROPONIK UNTUK MENINGKATKAN KEMANDIRIAN PANGAN DI KOMUNITAS PERUMAHAN SUBSIDI
2025Nur Aini Alfiah, Dewi Fatmawaty Sabiku, Devina Cinantya Anindita, Dewi Puspa Arisandi, Anggita Rizky Fadilah, Ni Nengah Putri Adnyani, Ferril Muhammad Nur · Jurnal Abdi Insani · Indonesia
A community service program in Jember Regency, Indonesia, from November 2024 to January 2025, aimed to enhance food independence among housewives in subsidized housing through training and practice in simple wick hydroponics for bok choy. Most participants understood the material, successfully grew bok choy at home, and showed interest in other vegetables. The program increased awareness of self-sufficient vegetable cultivation for family food security, improving their ability to provide bok choy for household needs, though not achieving full food independence.
DIYCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceFood educationMachine Learning–Based Climate-Adaptive Smart Gardening System for Sustainable Urban Agriculture
2025Zakhro Sodikova · International Journal of Scientific Research in Computer Science Engineering and Information Technology · Global
This research proposed and aimed to design and implement a Machine Learning-Based Climate-Adaptive Smart Gardening System for sustainable urban agriculture. The system uses environmental sensors to record soil moisture, air temperature, humidity, solar exposure, and light intensity in real-time. It employs machine learning models like Gradient Boosting, Random Trees, and LSTM to predict irrigation needs, plant stress, and environmental changes, adjusting gardening conditions to mitigate climate impacts.
Digital agricultureClimate changeDIY