HOW TO SUSTAINE ECOLOGICAL FOOD PRODUCTION UNDER URBAN CONDITIONS

Abstract

Sustainable horticulture production, recycling organic wastes, mitigate climate change impacts and greenhouse gas emission and save natural resources under urban and rural areas are a serious issues need to create new strategies. Rooftop garden and vermicomposting technologies performed an integrated strategy to share in achieving resilience city. The study was conducted out during two successive winter seasons (2015 and 2016) under urban conditions at Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate (CLAC), Giza, Egypt. The study investigated the use and the effect of vermicompost as an amendable substrate in different proportions (10 and 20% V/V) with sand: peat moss (1:1 V/V) and sand combined with two nutrient solution sources (chemical nutrient solution and vermi-liquid) with two EC levels (1 and 1.5 dS m-1) on lettuce yield under urban condition. Iceberg lettuce type cv. Robinson F1 hybrid was cultivated in split split plot design with three replicates. The study aimed to alternate or minimize the use of peat moss by vermicompost and chemical fertilizers by organic source via vermi-liquid to provide more sustainable production and mitigate climate change impacts via converting urban organic wastes through vermicomposting technology into vermicompost and vermi-liquid. Results revealed that using vermicompost as a substrate amendment combined with different substrates had a significant effect on lettuce yield through enhancing the physical and chemical properties of substrate and support plant nutrition. The use of chemical nutrient solution + EC level 1.5 dS m-1 + substrate sand: peat moss: vermicompost ((40: 40: 20% V/V) for producing the highest yield of lettuce under the investigation conditions. While for environmentally and safety, vermi-liquid + Ec level 1.5 dSm-1 + substrate sand: peat moss: vermicompost (40: 40: 20% V/V) was recommended. The study supported the micro and small scale urban farm to match the food security and safety needs via using vermicomposting outputs and simple substrate culture in top roof garden technique. Recycling urban organic wastes and mitigating greenhouse gases (GHG's) emission as well as sustainable food production need more efficient efforts and real contribution. Ecology food could be sustained under urban condition.