Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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385 results(1 / 16)
Development and Testing of a Low-Cost Soil Moisture Sensor for Real-Time Irrigation Scheduling
2026· Irrigation and Drainage · Global
Designs and tests a locally made low-cost Arduino-based soil moisture sensor for real-time irrigation scheduling, comparing and calibrating it against a commercial sensor and a conventional method in lab and field.
DIYEconomicsHow Is the Lawn & Garden Consumables Market Evolving Globally? Trends, Drivers, and Investment Opportunities
2026Next Move Strategy Consulting · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Global
The global Lawn & Garden Consumables Market, valued at USD 24.48 billion in 2024, is projected to reach USD 31.11 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.87% from 2025 to 2030. Growth is driven by consumer focus on home landscaping, outdoor aesthetics, sustainable gardening, eco-friendly products, digital distribution, and urban gardening trends. This study examines market trends, drivers, regional outlooks, segmentation, competitive landscape, and investment opportunities.
EconomicsDIYAgricultural Functions of Town in Conditions of Low Indicators of Natural Resource Potential
2026A. I. Danshin · Geografičeskaâ sreda i živye sistemy · Russia
This study aimed to identify the agricultural functions of small towns, including their role in providing additional income, in regions bordering Belarus with low natural resource potential and living standards. The current state of agricultural production in small towns was studied based on systematic observations and statistical information verified during 2023–2024 expeditionary studies. Findings revealed that residents use personal utility plots due to traditions, low incomes, insufficient store assortments, and to assist children in other regions.
EconomicsWelfareDIYEffects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield and quality of lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.) in rooftop garden
2026Monika Kundu, Rezowana Nizam, Suraya Parvin, Nigar Afsana, Konika Kundu, P. A. Bithy, Mohammad Mahbub Islam · Bangladesh Journal of Botany · Bangladesh
A pot experiment in a rooftop garden investigated the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on lettuce growth, yield, and antioxidant properties. Treatments with cowdung, alone or combined with vermicompost and biochar, increased plant height, leaf number, and shoot weight compared to control and inorganic fertilizer. Antioxidant compounds increased with organic fertilizers but decreased with inorganic fertilizers, suggesting organic fertilizers improve lettuce yield and quality in rooftop gardens.
DIYOrganic cycleHealthDiversity of Herbs
2026Dorothee Benkowitz · International explorations in outdoor and environmental education · Global
Herbs have historically provided medicinal, culinary, and cosmetic benefits, and their diversity offers insights into biological and ecological principles. Modern diets and disconnection from local agriculture have led to a decline in herbal knowledge. Cultivating herbs in school gardens promotes sustainability awareness, hands-on learning, and an appreciation for plant diversity.
Food educationBiodiversityDIYIoT-Enabled Smart Plant Ecosystem Integrating Real-Time Monitoring, Automated Irrigation, and Intelligent Growth Optimization Frameworks
2026Md. Safaet Hossain, Israt Jahan, Jawata Afnan, Israt Sultana Tanny, Nashid Sultana Mim, Kayes Mahmood · Techcomp Innovations · Global
This study presents Easy Grow Plants, an integrated web and Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem designed for urban plant care, addressing issues like inconsistent watering and insufficient care knowledge. The prototype, implemented with a React frontend, Django REST backend, SQLite database, and an Arduino UNO R4 WiFi smart pot, connects plant care guidance, soil-moisture monitoring, automated watering, and plant recommendations. Functional, interface, API, IoT connectivity, sensor calibration, watering control, and LAN deployment tests confirmed that the core modules operated together as an integrated academic prototype, providing a practical foundation for smart urban gardening.
Digital agricultureDIYCommunityThe Narratives of Community Garden Beneficiaries of Gawad Kalinga ERH Village: A Social Behavioral Change Evaluation
2026Joshua Eusebio Jr · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Philippines (Bacolod City)
This study assessed the social and behavioral changes of Project Kauswagan, a youth-led community garden initiative in Gawad Kalinga ERH Village, Bacolod City, Philippines, implemented from May 2024 to March 2025. Data from focus group discussions with key community leaders revealed six major themes, including empowerment, formation of community habits, shifts in attitudes toward sharing and collaboration, and positive impact on food security. The project strengthened collaboration and enhanced food accessibility for marginalized groups, particularly women.
CommunityFood sovereignty & justiceWelfareFood educationDIYSistema de irrigação inteligente baseado em IoT para agricultura urbana e cultivo doméstico
2026Adriano Barbella Arvatti, Cristina Miss de Jesus, Paulo Eduardo Batista de Oliveira, Paulo Roberto Galindo Filho, Paulo Rogério Marques Véspera, Rafael Hiroshi Braz da Silva, Vinicios de Oliveira Gomes · Revista fisio&terapia. · Global
This study developed an IoT-based smart irrigation system to optimize water management in urban and domestic agriculture. A quantitative field survey of 87 respondents revealed that 52.9% cited lack of time as the main obstacle to maintaining residential cultivation. A low-cost functional prototype using an Arduino Nano microcontroller was developed, and its Proof of Concept demonstrated the technical feasibility and stability of the local closed-loop firmware, ensuring automated activation based on critical thresholds.
Digital agricultureDIYSynergistic effects of vermicompost and biochar amendments on cherry tomato production in an urban rooftop garden: A 2‐year study
2026Mohammad Mahbub Islam, Robiul Islam, Rezowana Nizam, Nigar Afsana, Sadman Sakib, Suraya Parvin, Jubayer Al Mahmud, Md. Hasanuzzaman · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Global
This 2-year study evaluated the growth, physiology, and yield response of cherry tomatoes in different rooftop soil media supplemented with vermicompost and biochar in an urban rooftop garden. Using a completely randomized design with nine treatments and four replications, the combined application of vermicompost and biochar consistently outperformed individual applications. Treatments with 74% soil, 20% vermicompost, and 6% biochar resulted in the tallest plants, highest leaf number, thick stems, high leaf greenness, high relative water content, and highest fruit yield across both years. Although fruit yield declined by 20.49% in the second year, residual amendment effects continued to enhance plant performance relative to untreated soil.
DIYCompostOrganic cycleClimate changeImportance of Vegetables in Home Food Gardening in Modern Cities: Advances and Future Perspectives
2026Yugamaya Pegu, Rimli Gogoi, Jumi Saikia, Nayanmoni Buragohain · International Journal of Plant & Soil Science · Global
This review assessed the importance of vegetables in Home Food Gardening (HFG) in modern cities. Vegetables constitute a major part of HFG due to their rapid production, ease of maintenance, high yield in small spaces, and high nutritional benefits. Common HFG practices include yard, rooftop, balcony, community, and street/plot gardens, with innovations like better crop varieties and hydroponics increasing productivity. However, issues such as space constraints, expensive setup costs, lack of knowledge, poor soil, and insufficient light persist.
DIYCommunityHealthFood sovereignty & justiceDigital agricultureENSINANDO SOBRE EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL ATRAVÉS DA AGRICULTURA URBANA: OS TELHADOS VERDES
2026ALINE FERNANDA SILVA DE MOURA, RHAISSA FRANCISCA TAVARES DE MELO BALDER, CLOVES AUGUSTO DE LIMA SALES · Editora Realize eBooks · Global
This qualitative, observational study developed a lesson plan on urban agriculture, specifically green roofs, for 9th-grade students over four 50-minute classes. The objective was to engage students practically and creatively in building green roof models, encouraging research and explanation of the topic. The study observed that active methodologies, such as model creation and student-led explanations, made the lesson more engaging and effective, promoting greater content comprehension and developing critical and creative skills related to sustainability and environmental impact.
Food educationClimate changeDIYMeshball-driven air-pruning offers a resource efficient strategy for containerized cultivation in urban horticulture
2026Savitha Dhandapani, Gandhimathi Chinnasamy, Shaik Anwar Ahamed Nabeela Nasreen, Vidya Susan Philip, Bong Soo Park, S. P. Bhatnagar · Scientia Horticulturae · Global
This study developed meshball-mediated air-pruning, a method embedding stainless-steel spheres into soil to create localized aeration pockets, addressing issues like root circling, poor aeration, and inefficient resource use in containerized plant cultivation. Testing across four species revealed significant benefits for ornamental shrubs such as dwarf ixora and firebush, showing increases in shoot fresh weight, branch number, and root biomass. However, pak choi exhibited no measurable change, and white teak seedlings displayed reduced root biomass, indicating species-specific responses.
Limited or null effectDIYFactors Affecting Adoption of Systematic Household Waste Management, Waste Composting and Homestead Farming in Bharatpur, Janakpur and Pokhara
2026Sharad Sharma, Gita Kumari Shah, Arjun Aryal, Bipan Bahadur Tiwari, Bharat Khanal · Nepalese Journal of Agricultural Sciences · Nepal
The SOLID Health project by Nepal Development Society (NeDS) promoted household waste management and homestead farming in Bharatpur, Janakpur, and Pokhara, Nepal, from 2021 to 2024. A survey of 348 households found that 81% practiced either rooftop or kitchen gardening, with rooftop farming most prevalent in Pokhara (64%) and kitchen gardening in Bharatpur (71%). The project led to a 69% change in knowledge and attitude towards waste management and a 39% overall increase in home composting practice. Socio-demographic factors like education level, income, and land availability significantly influenced adoption, with higher education and larger homestead land areas linked to greater practice of kitchen gardening and rooftop farming.
CompostDIYCommunityFood educationPandemic impacts on experiences of food gardening in New Zealand: Implications for food wellbeing during Covid-19 lockdown
2026Emma L. Sharp, Cavadino Alana, Kah Melanie · Wellbeing Space and Society · New Zealand
An online survey of 266 food gardeners in New Zealand investigated changes in food gardening experiences during the Covid-19 lockdown. Approximately two-thirds of participants reported gardening for mental or physical wellbeing during lockdown, prioritizing wellbeing over healthy food production compared to before lockdown. Growing culturally relevant food increased in importance for Māori and Pacific Island participants.
HealthCommunityDIYFood sovereignty & justiceGrowth and Yield Responses of Dragon Fruit to Diverse Growing Media in Rooftop Gardens
2026Md. Monirul Islam, Joydeb Gomasta, Md. Abdul Quddus, Asma Anwari, A. K. M. Saiful Islam, Md. Torikul Islam · New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science · Global
A two-year pot experiment was conducted from 2020 to 2022 on the roof of a four-story building to identify an optimal growing medium for dragon fruit cultivation on rooftops. Seven different combinations of soil, cocodust, biochar, and vermicompost were evaluated, with the medium comprising 80% cocodust and 20% vermicompost (T2) showing the highest branch count, fruit count, fruit weight, and yield in the second year. T2 also improved edible portion, TSS, and vitamin C contents, and exhibited the highest benefit-cost ratio (4.17).
DIYCommunityEconomicsSchool garden programs supporting sustainable agricultural intensification through knowledge transfer and family engagement
2026Channaty Ngang, Donchida Wathinputhiporn, Lyda Hok, David R. Ader, Cherdpong Kheerajit · Thai Journal of Agricultural Science · Cambodia
This study investigated the role of school garden programs in facilitating the transfer of Sustainable Agricultural Intensification (SAI) knowledge from students to their families, involving 120 families in Siem Reap province, Cambodia. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews in June 2024 and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, independent t-tests, and logistic regression models. Results showed that parents' occupation, perceived benefits of SAI, and social influence were significant predictors of their willingness to apply SAI practices at home.
Food educationCommunityDIYCultivating Sustainability: How Modern Food Practices Shape Pro‐Environmental Motivation Through Food–Nature Associations
2026Shu Tian Ng, Angela K.‐Y. Leung · Sustainable Development · Global
Three studies (N=383, N=591, N=397) investigated how modern food practices influence pro-environmental motivation through the perceived association of food with nature. The research found that growing food had a positive indirect relationship with pro-environmentalism via food-nature association. However, evidence for natural food consumption was weaker, and cooking showed no significant effects on this relationship.
DIYClimate changeFood educationBloom Finder: A Smart Flower Recommendation System Using Machine Learning
2026Chaudhari Gunjan, Thakare S. W · International Scientific Journal of Engineering and Management · Global
Bloom Finder is an intelligent decision-support system designed to assist users in selecting suitable flower species based on environmental and personal preferences. This system integrates personalized flower care tips, optimized fertilizer guidance, and an expanded range of flower categories. Leveraging IoT-enabled sensors and machine learning algorithms, it provides precise, data-driven recommendations by continuously monitoring environmental parameters such as soil pH, moisture, rainfall, temperature, humidity, and light intensity.
Digital agricultureBiodiversityDIYReal time Plant Disease detection and Classification using CNN Integrated IOT Framework
2026Pranali Nitnaware, Rina Mundle, Disha Sahastrabuddhe, Shahastrika Kamble, Himanshu Nandankar · Open MIND · Global
This paper proposes an Android application integrating plant disease detection and waste management for urban agriculture. The system uses a lightweight TensorFlow Lite CNN model to detect plant diseases from leaf images in real time and provides treatment recommendations. It also includes a module for users to submit waste complaints with images, descriptions, and GPS information, allowing administrators to monitor and update statuses via the cloud.
Digital agricultureDIYFood educationCompanion Planting as Functional Diversity
2026Svenja Baumgartinger · International explorations in outdoor and environmental education · Global
Companion planting is a natural gardening practice where crops are grown together to support each other's growth and foster relationships within a larger network of organisms. This practice contributes to biodiversity by supporting natural processes in the garden. Designing school gardens as companion planting gardens can allow students to experience biodiversity and learn about organism interactions.
BiodiversityFood educationDIYMachine learning-based detection and classification of leaf diseases in rooftop gardens
2026Vidyashree K P, Udayabalan B, Shilpa M S, Madhusudhana R, Nandini S, Bhagyalakshmi R, Shivani T J · Journal of Integrated Science and Technology · Global
This research proposed a plant species recognition system based on deep learning technology to guide plant selection and management in rooftop gardening and urban agriculture. The system comprises four steps: image acquisition, preprocessing, feature extraction, and classification. The model was trained on a dataset of 80,000 images of 14 plant species, utilizing transfer learning on a ResNet9 architecture. The model achieved a score of approximately 92 out of 100.
Digital agricultureDIYDesign and Implementation of a Low-Cost Controlled-Environment Growth Chamber for Vegetative Propagation of Mother Plants
2025· AgriEngineering · Global
Designs and implements a low-cost modular growth chamber as an accessible alternative to expensive commercial equipment. It integrates thermal insulation, LED lighting, forced ventilation, a recirculating irrigation system with double filtration, and Arduino UNO-based environmental monitoring.
DIYEconomicsAn innovative design of household-scale vermicomposting bin for domestic organic waste treatment
2025· International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology · Global
Proposes a household-scale vermicomposting bin using Perionyx excavatus to both treat domestic organic waste and grow vegetables; adding a ventilation pipe improved performance.
DIYCompostOrganic cycleExploring the utility of different bulking agents for speeding up the composting process of household kitchen waste
2025· Scientific Reports · Global
Compares different bulking agents for speeding up the composting process of household kitchen waste.
DIYCompostTechno-economic evaluation of decentralized community composting as a management model to valorize organic matter in small and medium-sized towns
2025· Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management · Global
Techno-economic evaluation of decentralized community composting as a model to valorize organic matter in small and medium-sized towns.
DIYCommunityEconomics