Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
Theme
Critical findings
301 results(5 / 13)
Organic amendments alter urban soil microbiomes and improve crop quality
2024Joshua Garcia, Mariel Mondragon-Becerra, I. Rojas Martínez, Mallika Nocco, Cristina Lazcano · Applied Soil Ecology · United States (California)
A greenhouse trial was conducted in urban agricultural soil from the San Francisco Bay Area, USA, to investigate the effects of organic amendments derived from local municipal waste products on the soil microbiome, tomato productivity, and quality. Liquid food waste hydrolysate and mixed herbivore waste compost increased microbial abundance in the soil compared to mineral fertilizer. While mineral-fertilized tomato plants generally had higher productivity and yields, plants treated with the hydrolysate and mixed herbivore waste compost showed enhanced fruit soluble sugar content (°Brix).
Organic cycleCompostBiodiversityDIYCan vermicompost mitigate water stress & pest pressure on zucchini?
2024Zzimbe, Adrian, Fuoss, Kylie, Armas, Joelle, Blubaugh, Carmen · SPARK Scholarship at Parkland (Parkland College) · Global
This experiment examines how water stress and vermicompost interactively shape pest attraction in urban agriculture, which faces challenges like water access and pest pressure. Vermicompost is hypothesized to mitigate water stress by enhancing organic matter and humic acids to improve water retention, and to relieve pest pressure by enhancing plant defensive chemistry.
CompostOrganic cycleClimate changePotential Policy and Community Implications of Equitable Organic Waste, Compost, and Urban Agricultural Systems in the United States
2023Hall S.M., Tikku V., Heiger-Bernays W.J. · Environmental Health Perspectives, 131(11):115001 · Global
Examines equity and safety in urban organic-waste cycling through a case study of waste-to-compost activities and legislation in four US cities. It warns that contaminants such as pesticides, lead, and PFAS and inconsistent regulation can worsen racial inequities in access to urban farmland and safe compost, and recommends justice-oriented policy with multilingual education and proper waste disposal.
CompostOrganic cyclePolicyFood lossCommunityCommunity composting strategies for biowaste treatment: methodology, bulking agent and compost quality
2023Alves, D., Villar, I., Mato, S. · Environmental Science and Pollution Research (Springer), 31(7):9873-9885 · Spain / Europe
A study comparing methodology, bulking agents, and compost quality across community composting centres (CCC) and community gardens used by local governments to treat biowaste. It shows how population density and the presence of green areas determine the siting of decentralized local composting infrastructure.
CompostOrganic cyclePolicyCommunityMycorrhizal fungi and soil factors influence toxic element uptake in urban grown produce
2023Logan Bowdish, Adalie Duran, Justin Richardson, Eric Vukicevich · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · United States
In an urban community farm, this study evaluated how crop identity, harvested tissue, and soil factors—including arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi—affect crop uptake of lead and arsenic. Lead uptake increased with lower soil pH and lower soil phosphorus, greater AM fungal colonization was associated with greater lead uptake, while more fungal storage vesicles related to less arsenic uptake into leaves.
HealthCompostDecentralized in-vessel composting: an efficient technology for biodegradable solid waste management
2023· Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery · Global
Examines decentralized in-vessel composting as an efficient technology for managing biodegradable solid waste.
DIYCompostOrganic cycleMunicipal Waste Degradation by Vermicomposting Using a Combination of Eisenia fetida and Lumbricus rubellus Species
2023· Agronomy · Global
Investigates the degradation of municipal waste through vermicomposting using a combination of Eisenia fetida and Lumbricus rubellus.
DIYCompostOrganic cycleLife cycle assessment of source separation of biowaste, pay as you throw systems and autonomous composting units in the Municipality of Katerini, Greece
2023· Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management · Greece
Life cycle assessment comparing source separation of biowaste, pay-as-you-throw systems and autonomous (decentralized) composting units in the Municipality of Katerini, Greece.
DIYCommunityCompostCompost quality of a peri-urban waste composting facility: A case of Mukono municipality, Uganda
2023Kizza-Nkambwe S., Mpewo M., Kasima J. S., Mfuranzima K. · Sustainable Environment · Mukono, Uganda
Assesses compost quality from a waste composting facility in Mukono municipality, central Uganda, analysing physicochemical parameters and heavy metals and arsenic in mature compost.
CompostOrganic cycleAssessment of Heavy Metal Distribution and Health Risk of Vegetable Crops Grown on Soils Amended with Municipal Solid Waste Compost for Sustainable Urban Agriculture
2023Bhardwaj P., Sharma R. K., Chauhan A., Ranjan A., Rajput V. D., Minkina T., Mina U., Tripathi A. · Water · India
Evaluates amending soil with municipal solid waste compost at different ratios and its effect on growth and yield of brinjal, tomato and okra, assessing heavy metal distribution and health risk for sustainable urban agriculture.
CompostHealthRisk Mitigation Practices in Urban Gardening: A Case of Small Minority Producers in Maryland
2023Lila B. Karki, Prem Bhandari · Global Journal of Agricultural Research · United States (Maryland)
This 2022 project collected data from 22 small, socially disadvantaged minority urban gardeners in Maryland to enhance their efficiency. Findings showed farmers operated rationally, cultivating an average of 20 diversified specialty, ethnic, and medicinal crops on 1.2 acres. They employed integrated alley and mixed cropping systems, rainwater harvesting, expanded compost-making, maintained high cropping diversity, and introduced a tier system to mitigate production, marketing, and financial risks.
EconomicsHealthClimate changeCompostCauliflower Cultivation on Rooftop Garden Using Various Composts: Morphological and Economic Analysis
2023Akhi Akter, Md. Forhad Hossain, Jubayer-Al Mahmud, Nasrin Sultana, Md Maruf Hasan, Tahira Begum · Journal of Agroforestry and Environment · Bangladesh (Dhaka)
This study investigated the impacts of vermicompost, sawdust, and cowdung on cauliflower growth and yield on a rooftop in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from November 2019 to July 2020. The experiment found that vermicompost (10 t ha-1) combined with recommended chemical fertilizers resulted in the highest yield (19.75 t ha-1) and benefit-cost ratio (3.33). The results indicate that rooftops are suitable for cauliflower production using vermicompost.
CompostOrganic cycleEconomicsDIYPeningkatan kemandirian dan ketahanan pangan masyarakat perempuan melalui urban gardening Kelompok Wanita Tani (KWT) “Ijo Royo-Royo” Tambakaji Ngaliyan Kota Semarang
2023Siti Hasanah, Mustika Widowati, Sri Hardiningsih, Vita Arumsari · KACANEGARA Jurnal Pengabdian pada Masyarakat · Indonesia (Semarang)
This community service project targeted women in the "Ijo Royo-Royo" Women Farmers Group in Tambakaji, Semarang City, Indonesia, addressing their limited experience in utilizing narrow home yards for planting and lack of skills in waste management. The project provided assistance in creating urban gardens for daily food independence, managing plastic waste for vertical planting, and processing vegetable and fruit waste into healthy drinks and organic fertilizer. The aim was to increase the economic value and benefits of urban backyard farming.
DIYCompostFood educationWelfareCommunityEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceTransfer Teknologi pengolahan Media Tanam Berbasis Mikroba Indigenous dan Gulma Air Kepada Petani Kelurahan Bangkal
2023Ismed Setya Budi, Ismed Fachruzi, Mariana Mariana, Yusriadi Yusriadi, Muhammad Indar Pramudi, Helda Orbani Rossa · Jurnal Pengabdian ILUNG (Inovasi Lahan Basah Unggul) · Indonesia (Banjarbaru)
This project addressed agricultural challenges in Bangkal Village, Banjarbaru City, Indonesia, where farmers face issues with soil fertility and seasonal flooding. The proposed solution involved transferring technology for making organic fertilizer using indigenous microbes (Trichoderma sp.) and aquatic weeds (kalakai and kayapu). Initial outreach and a workshop with 42 participants revealed farmers needed direct practical guidance. Ongoing field assistance enabled the "Bunga Padi" farmer group to produce packaged organic fertilizer for market and local use, with the aim of eventually marketing Bangkal-specific organic red rice.
Organic cycleCompostPeri-urban agricultureCommunityEl vermicompostaje una alternativa para potenciar la agricultura urbana
2023Medardo Wilfredo Blanco Villacorta · Revista de Investigación e Innovación Agropecuaria y de Recursos Naturales · Global
This review examined general aspects of vermicomposting to explore its use in treating organic solid waste and enhancing urban agriculture. It analyzed 99 papers published between 2000 and 2022, retrieved from Google Scholar. The review found that vermicomposting is a low-cost ecotechnological process where earthworms transform organic solid waste into vermicompost, making it suitable for recycling organic waste in cities and supporting urban agriculture sustainability.
CompostOrganic cyclePlant growth and microbial responses from urban agriculture soils amended with excavated local sediments and municipal composts
2023Jordi Guimera Garcia, Natalie Bray, Yowhan Son, Aleah L. Butler-Jones, Sara Perl Egendorf, Jenny Kao‐Kniffin · Journal of Urban Ecology · United States (New York City)
In New York City, a study investigated plant growth (tomato, pepper, kale) in soils constructed from four municipal composts mixed with sediments from the NYC Clean Soil Bank, to assess the potential for safe urban agricultural soils. While Clean Soil Bank sediments enhanced plant growth when mixed with BRL compost, they also negatively impacted tomato aboveground biomass production by 29% in LES compost and tomato plant height by 18% in QBG compost, indicating variable effects depending on compost properties.
Contamination & food safetyCompostOrganic cycleHealthClimate changeEvaluación del desempeño productivo de la lechuga (Lechuga Batavia) fertilizada con diferentes cantidades de Lombicompostaje
2023Juliana Marcela Santos Calderón, Julián David Coral Sanabria, Olga Ximena Aguilar Galvis · Innovando En La U · Global
This study investigated the effect of different amounts of vermicompost (0%, 20%, and 40%) on Batavia lettuce cultivation. It found that 20% vermicompost accelerated germination on the first day (P0.05). By day 40, 20% vermicompost influenced plant height and leaf number, resulting in an average height of 5.44 cm and 7.2 leaves by day 46 (P<0.05). These findings suggest that 20% vermicompost is the most recommended amount for Batavia lettuce.
CompostDIYOrganic cycleFood sovereignty & justiceAnalisis Pengembangan Skula Kompos Berbasis Kegiatan Pemberdyaan Masyarakat (Studi Kasus : PT. Solusi Bangun Indonesia Tbk Pabrik Cilacap)
2023Oto Prasadi, Andika Prastya, Muhammad Fauzi, Budi Nurochman · Society Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat · Indonesia
The "compost school" (skula kompos) program, initiated in 2019 by PT Solusi Bangun Indonesia Tbk, Cilacap factory, focuses on educating communities about household organic waste management. This program, part of the Baruwani Program, aims to reduce waste, produce compost for urban farming, and support the use of waste as alternative fuel in cement production. The compost school serves as a platform for outreach and training in compost making.
CompostOrganic cycleCommunityFood educationPemberdayaan Masyarakat Melalui Kegiatan Urban farming dan Pengelolaan sampah di Kelurahan Gunung Samarinda Baru
2023Agung Prabowo, Muhammad Ikhsan Alif · PengabdianMu Jurnal Ilmiah Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat · Indonesia
In Gunung Samarinda Baru Village, Indonesia, a community service activity addressed limited green open space through urban farming and waste management. The initiative involved training and practical sessions on hydroponic vegetable cultivation and compost processing from household waste, following initial socialization. Monitoring results showed that the community utilized their green open space for hydroponic vegetable growing, evidenced by a first harvest, and engaged in compost processing.
CommunityDIYCompostOrganic cyclePelatihan Pemanfaatan Limbah Sagu Sebagai Bahan Pembuatan Pupuk Organik dengan Bioreaktor Bsfl pada Kelompok Tani “Dwitrap” Kampung Tambat Kabupaten Merauke
2023Yosefina Mangera, Jamaludin Jamaludin · ABDIKAN Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Bidang Sains dan Teknologi · Indonesia
A community service program in Tambat Village, Merauke Regency, Indonesia, provided socialization and training to the Dwitrap farmer group on utilizing sago processing waste for organic fertilizer using black soldier fly larvae bioreactors. The program successfully transferred knowledge and skills, with participants demonstrating increased understanding of sago waste processing.
CompostOrganic cycleCommunityORGANIC URBAN FARMING PENDUKUNG KETAHANAN PANGAN WILAYAH POKJA KARANGLO INDAH, KECAMATAN BLIMBING, KOTA MALANG
2023Sari Perwita Rahmanti Ignatia, Sunik · ASAWIKA Media Sosialisasi Abdimas Widya Karya · Indonesia
Dissemination activities, demonstrations, and training on organic urban farming were conducted for PKK members in RT 01, RW 04, Balearjosari Village, Blimbing District, Malang City, Indonesia. The initiative aimed to support homemakers in cultivating organic vegetables in their yards to achieve household-level food safety and security. The activities resulted in an increase in participants' knowledge, skills, and ability to apply organic cultivation practices in their respective yards, contributing to family food safety and security.
DIYCompostFood educationFood sovereignty & justiceEfek Pemberian Pupuk Organik Cair Berbasis Kulit Buah (Eco Enzyme) terhadap Pertumbuhan Tanaman Pakcoy (Brassica chinensis L.)
2023Wulan Sari Sinaga, Desyana Millenia Limeranto, Eugenia Larissa Bakti Pangala, Kukuh Madyaningrana · Pro-Life · Global
This research investigated the macro nutrient content of fruit peel-based liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) and its effect on Pakcoy (Brassica chinensis L.) growth over 56 days, using a completely randomized design with five treatments and five replications. The study found that the macro nutrients in the fruit peel-based LOF did not meet the Ministry of Agriculture's quality standards. However, a 0.4 mL dose of the fruit peel-based LOF showed the best effect in supporting Pakcoy plant growth across all measured parameters.
DIYCompostOrganic cycleProduction and Application of Organic Waste Compost for Urban Agriculture in Emerging Cities
2022Asian research network · ResearchGate · Asia
Research on organic waste composting and its application in urban agriculture across emerging Asian cities, integrating circular agriculture with waste reduction.
CompostOrganic cycleA review on waste management and compost production in the Middle East–North Africa region
2022Hussein L., Uren C., Rekik F., Hammami Z. · Waste Management & Research · Middle East, North Africa
Comprehensive review of waste management and composting strategies in MENA region, with implications for circular urban agriculture in water-scarce contexts.
CompostOrganic cyclePolicyExcess fertility in residential‐scale urban agriculture soils in two western Oregon cities, USA
2022Mykl Nelson, Gwynne Mhuireach, Gail A. Langellotto · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · United States (Oregon)
To characterize residential-scale urban agriculture soils, the authors sampled 27 residential vegetable gardens in two western Oregon cities, distinguishing in-ground beds from raised beds. They found these soils frequently exceeded recommended ranges for many fertility parameters—likely due to routine overapplication of compost, amendments, and fertilizers—with raised beds significantly higher than in-ground beds in carbon/nitrogen ratio, active carbon, and sulfur.
CompostOrganic cycle