Soil Quality as a Key Factor in Producing Vegetables for Home Consumption—A Case Study of Urban Allotments in Gorzów Wielkopolski (Poland)

Konstancja Fedeńczak,Tomasz Górecki,Leszek Bednorz,Tomasz Spiżewski,Andrzej Mizgajski,Maciej Bosiacki,Lidia Poniży

doi:10.3390/agronomy11091836

Konstancja Fedeńczak, Tomasz Górecki + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11091836

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyse the quality of soil in urban allotment gardens in the context of the production of home-grown vegetables. The study was conducted on six allotment gardens (31 individual plots) in Gorzów Wielkopolski, a medium-sized Polish city with an average level of industrialisation. The following soil characteristics were analysed: pH, electric conductivity, organic matter, organic carbon, humus, total nitrogen, C:N ratio, NH4+-N, NO3-N−, P, K, Ca, Mg, SO4−-S, Cl, Na, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cd, Pb. The analyses showed that the soils were abundant in necessary nutrients for vegetable growing. They had high content of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. However, the soil pH in areas of vegetable cropping was too high. The content of toxic heavy metals—cadmium (0.22–0.59 mg∙kg−1 d.m.) and lead (3.46–16.89 mg∙kg−1 d.m.)—was within the acceptable limits. Nevertheless, the chemical analysis of carrots used as test vegetables showed that the permissible limits of cadmium and lead content in their roots were exceeded. The excessive uptake of these toxic metals can be reduced by lowering the soil pH and applying organic carbon to the soil.

Highlights

Introduction published maps and institutional affilCities are an important element in the food system because, on the one hand, they generate the demand for food for urban residents and, on the other hand, they are the places where food is produced in urban and peri-urban areas
Allotment gardens are increasingly used for leisure and recreation in Poland, but the cultivation of crops is still important for a substantial group of AGs users [2]
We studied the relationship between the soil pH

Summary

Introduction

Introduction published maps and institutional affilCities are an important element in the food system because, on the one hand, they generate the demand for food for urban residents and, on the other hand, they are the places where food is produced in urban and peri-urban areas. More than half of the world population lives in cities. Crop cultivation in cities has several major advantages such as the reduction of food miles and connecting people with nature [1]. Allotment gardens (AGs) are an important component of urban agriculture. They have been present in many European countries, including Poland, since the 19th century. Food provision has been the most important function of AGs for many years. Allotment gardens are increasingly used for leisure and recreation in Poland, but the cultivation of crops is still important for a substantial group of AGs users [2].

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