Sustainable Urban Farming: Effects of Organic Manure on Lettuce Growth and Soil Fertility

The purpose of this study is to determine the chemical characteristics of the liquid organic fertilizer from several types of animal manures. The research had been conducted in the experimental garden site of Department of Food Crops and Horticulture, Kupang State Agricultural Polytechnic. The research was designed using a simple statistical l with 7 treatments which were liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) made from cow manure; LOF made from chicken manure; LOF made from goat manure; LOF made from goat and cow manure; LOF made from chicken and cow manure; LOF made from chicken and goat manure; and LOF made from goat, cow and chicken manure. The observed parameters were C/N, pH, macro nutrient and micro nutrient contents. The results showed that the liquid organic fertilizer made from manure of cow, chicken, goat, and its combination of these materials can be applied to cultivation plants but have not met the minimum technical requirements of organic liquid fertilizer (Minister of Agriculture Regulation No.70/Permentan/SR.140/10/2011). The best result was showed by the LOF made from chicken manure with pH 7.32 , N 1619.68 ppm , 541.44 ppm P, K 4000.00 me/100g , Zn 14.43 me/100g , Cu 4.33 me/100g. The highest C/N was found in LOF made from goat and cow manure which was 0.66. The highest Mg was in the LOF made from cow, goat and chicken manure for 723.10 me/100g. The highest Ca was in LOF made from goat manure. The highest S was in the LOF made from goat and cow manure for 749.95 me/100g while the Fe and Mn were highest found in the LOF made from cow manure which was equal to 84.02 ppm and 23.05 me/100g.  Keywords : LOF, Fertilizers, Characteristic, Animal manure .

To meet the nutritional needs of the people of Jakarta, urban agriculture is one of the food supply solutions. This study analyzes community expectations for participation in sustainable urban agriculture in Jakarta. The latest developments of this study provide results on the impact of economic, health and environmental variables on people's expectations for the sustainability of urban agriculture in Jakarta. The novelty of this study is that it considers the theme of the study, namely the inhabitants of the city of Jakarta, engaged in urban agriculture, a total of 112 respondents. The results of this study indicate that economic, health and environmental variables, simultaneously or in part, positively influence the expectations of community involvement in the sustainability of urban agricultural activities in the city of Jakarta. Based on these findings, it can be said that the expectation of community engagement in sustainable urban agriculture in Jakarta translates into greater productivity, knowledge, skills, awareness and understanding of the existence of clear regulations. The corrected R-square value is 0.704 based on the results of the coefficients that determine the impact of economic, health and environmental factors on community participation expectations in the sustainability of urban agriculture in Jakarta. In other words, 70.4% of community participation expectations in urban agriculture depend on economic factors, while health and other environmental factors depend on other factors. Expectations for community involvement in sustainable urban agriculture are already high and Jakarta's food security can be ensured later.

A greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluate the nematicidal activity of animal manures viz. chicken and goat manures, biopesticides viz. bio-zeid and nemex against Meloidogyne incognita infecting three cucurbits compared with oxamyl. Cucurbit plants namely cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cv. Biet Alpha, squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) cv. Escandrany and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) cvs. Master and.Mlokywere chosen for this study. Results indicated that of five tested materials, oxamyl, chicken and goat manures were the most effective in suppressing root galling and number of egg masses of M.incognita infecting cucurbit plants. Oxamyl (69.22%), chicken (60.98%) and goat (56.60 %) manures showed better performance in reducing root galling on cucumber than did on squash. Among the two cultivars of watermelon, the effectiveness of oxamyl (70.75), chicken (52.29) and goat (49.22%) manures were more pronounced on Master than on Mloky cultivar with root galling reached 50.74, 28.36 and 23.88% respectively. On the other hand, all treatments showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) improvement in cucurbits to certain extent. The maximum percentage of increase in shoot fresh weight was recorded on cucumber (93.30; 74.76%) and watermelon cv. Mloky (92.74; 76.81%) in pots receiving oxamyl and chicken manure, respectively. In general, number of galls showing fewer and smaller gall diameter (˂ 2 mm ) was significantly decreased by oxamyl, chicken and goat manures in the three plant species. Our results showed that chicken and goat manures could be used to increase crop yield of cucurbit plants and for controlling root-knot nematode, M.incognita .

Goat droppings and rabbit droppings are types of animal droppings that have not been maximally utilized. If treated with both types of impurities can produce liquid organic fertilizer that can be used in agriculture. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of liquid organic fertilizer from goat manure and rabbit manure on the growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). This research was carried out in the agricultural land in the rice field area of Purbolinggo District, East Lampung.The method used in this study was an experiment using a completely randomized design (CRD) pattern of one factor, namely the type of liquid organic fertilizer from goat manure and rabbit feces three times. The data obtained were analyzed by quantitative descriptive analysis. The best treatment for stem height growth is P1 (liquid fertilizer of 500 ml goat manure), with an average growth of 1.8 cm for one month. The best treatment for the number of leaves is P2 (500 ml rabbit manure liquid fertilizer), with an average growth of 4 leave.

The high population and the lack of productive land in Indonesia cause environmental problems caused by pollution and waste. Urban farming could be a solution to provide food needs and can also improve urban environmental conditions. Lettuce are suitable for cultivation in urban areas, the taste and benefits make lettuce have good prospects. Reusing waste such as roasted husks and goat manure as fertilizer also beneficial for the environment. This research aimed to study the best combination of media and dosage of goat manure and its effect on increasing lettuce growth and yield. The hypothesis is that the application of goat manure can increase the growth and yield of lettuce and the difference in yield between the combinations of planting media on lettuce. The research was conducted from October to December 2020 at Greenhouse CV. Kurnia Kitri Ayu. This research used a Randomized Block Design with 10 treatment combinations. P1: Soil + 0 g, P2: Soil + 25 g, P3: Soil + 50 g, P4: Soil + 75 g, P5: Soil and Roasted Husk (2:1) + 25 g, P6: Soil and Roasted Husk (2:1) + 50 g, P7: Soil and Roasted Husk (2:1) + 75 g, P8: Soil and Roasted Husk (1:1) + 25 g, P9:Soil and Roasted Husk (1:1) + 50 g, and P10: Soil and Roasted Husk (1:1) + 75 g. The combination of planting media and goat manure can support the growth of lettuce compared to the use of media without the combination and addition of manure. P7 and P9 have the best results, the highest average is giving P7 treatment with an average weight of 44.67g and an average economic weight of 40.67g.

In-door germination and seedling growth of green and red lettuce under LED-light spectrum and subsequent effect on baby leaf lettuce

PurposeThis study addresses the growing challenges of food security, livelihood generation and sustainable urban living in the context of increasing urbanization in developing countries. As urban populations are projected to rise significantly in the coming decades, urban agriculture emerges as a potential solution to support dietary needs and economic empowerment. However, urban farming practices in developing countries face unique socio-economic, cultural and technological challenges compared to developed nations. This paper aims to analyze global urban agriculture practices, examine success stories from developed countries and propose an adaptable, inclusive urban agriculture model tailored to developing countries.Design/methodology/approachThe research systematically reviews global urban agriculture practices, emphasizing successful implementations in developed nations. The research highlights gaps and areas of opportunity by comparing these practices with the unique socio-economic and cultural contexts of developing countries. Focus group interviews were conducted among urban farmers from India to finalize the key variables of urban agriculture in developing countries. The second phase involves the construction of a context-specific model for developing countries and proposing interventions. A comparative method is devised to identify developed country’s urban agricultural practices and policies to derive an optimal urban agricultural model for developing countries.FindingsThe findings from the study reveal that in developed countries, urban agriculture is motivated by the urge to become self-sustainable and to maintain a connection with the community shaped by different socio-economic, environmental and technological factors. In developing countries, the prime motive is to generate a secondary income source and ensure food security. Still, they face limited technological access, insufficient policy support and socio-cultural barriers. Technology-supported urban agricultural infrastructure and support from the government and other stakeholders would be a potential solution in developing countries to implement successful integrative solutions. To support this, adaptive policies in urban agriculture are required to bridge the gap in the current system.Practical implicationsThis research offers practical implications for policymakers, urban planners and agricultural stakeholders in developing countries. It emphasizes the importance of designing policies that address resource constraints, such as land availability and financial access and promote sustainable farming techniques. The study recommends creating supportive frameworks to empower urban farmers, including subsidies, training programs and efficient market mechanisms. Integrating urban farming into city planning can foster green spaces, enhance food security and drive economic development. These actionable recommendations aim to facilitate the growth of urban agriculture as a sustainable and inclusive practice in developing countries.Social implicationsParticipation and social cohesiveness aspects of urban agriculture provide beneficial food accessibility with the concept of food for all, ensuring socio-cultural equality in accessing quality food. This study highlights the role of urban agriculture in addressing socio-economic inequalities, particularly in developing countries. By engaging communities in sustainable farming practices, urban agriculture can create collaborative networks, promote healthier lifestyles and improve access to fresh produce. The study also underscores the importance of empowering urban populations through targeted interventions in urban farming. These social implications reinforce the value of urban agriculture in enhancing the overall quality of urban life.Originality/valueThis study makes a unique contribution by focusing on the contextual adaptation of urban agriculture models for developing countries. While urban farming has been extensively studied in developed nations, limited research addresses developing regions’ specific challenges and opportunities. By proposing a comprehensive and inclusive model that bridges socio-economic and cultural gaps, this research provides a novel framework for integrating urban farming into the urban planning and policy landscape of developing countries. The originality lies in its comparative approach, leveraging global best practices while tailoring solutions to local contexts, thereby advancing the discourse on sustainable urban agriculture.

Urban agriculture (UA) forms a crucial part of the urban food chain in many cities in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA). As urbanization continues, it becomes increasingly important to acknowledge the role of UA within the socioeconomic fabric of the city, and build inclusive business models to empower its practitioners. A crucial constraint for this is that various stakeholders in UA often take conflicting stances on the phenomenon. Some see it as an illegal, unsustainable practice leading to pollution and soil degradation. Others claim that it sustainably increases food security and offers employment opportunities, particularly for the urban poor. This leads to a conflict in perception and value sets between the various stakeholders involved in UA, which inhibits the further development of UA into a sustainable, more inclusive business. Recently we also see an emerging view that UA can help address the issue of climate change by sustainable management of soil carbon stocks in addition to providing food and other services. An element that is mostly ignored in the discussion surrounding UA is land-use history and its effect on composition and nutrient status of UA soils, and with it the potential for sustaining UA and mitigating climate change. We propose that the sustainability of UA can only be understood within the context of land-use practices during and before UA. Only by understanding and acknowledging this context can UA be part of inclusive business practices in the urban environment. Here we review scientific literature on UA sites in SSA to unravel the extent of the knowledge gap in this area, and derive a guiding framework to integrate land-use history effects in the discussion on UA within the context of developing inclusive business models for its practitioners.

This study investigates the climate change adaptation strategies employed by urban crop and livestock farmers in Ghana. With the increasing recognition of climate change threats to agricultural productivity and food security, it is crucial to understand urban farmers’ adaptation strategies. Through a mixed-methods approach—surveys of 191 urban farming households using a questionnaire and interviews of 13 key informants using an interview guide, data were collected from farmers in urban Ghana. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics from the Statistical Package for Social Sciences and presented in tables. The qualitative data were analysed manually based on themes and content and presented in narratives. The results indicated a significant relationship between urban farmers’ educational status and gender and their sources of climate change adaptation information. Urban farmers’ climate change adaptation strategies include planting more improved and less indigenous crop varieties and rearing of more exotic and less local breeds of animals. Again, to buffer animal production against climatic diseases, urban farmers treat their animals through vaccination, giving animals pills, disinfecting pens, and spraying animals’ bodies with chemicals. Access to agricultural extension services is the main challenge in urban farmers’ climate change adaptation. The study underscores the importance of enhancing farmers’ resilience through targeted interventions, including capacity-building initiatives, access to climate information and financial resources, and the integration of climate-smart agricultural practices into urban planning and policy frameworks. In addressing these challenges and promoting adaptive strategies, urban crop and livestock farmers in Ghana can enhance their resilience to climate change and contribute to sustainable urban agriculture and food security. This study, therefore, contributes to the urban agriculture and climate change literature by drawing attention to how crop and animal farmers in the urban neighbourhood adapt to climatic stressors.

Objective: Urban agriculture (UA) is seen as a way to tackle food insecurity in cities and boost economic growth. Yet, achieving economic empowerment through UA programs is challenging. This research aims to identify the values linked to community participation in UA in the Klang Valley area of Malaysia and understand how these values contribute to economic empowerment with the help of social connections. Methods: Data was collected from 180 respondents who participated in UA programs, using multistage random sampling. Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied to analyze the relationships between various variables. Mediating effect analysis was conducted to explore the theoretical indirect relationships between constructs. The results indicate that two dimensions, planning and implementation, contribute significantly to linking. This study also highlighted that implementation linking have positive effects on economic empowerment meanwhile planning negatively affects economic empowerment. By fostering networks and relationships between these groups, social capital linking facilitates the identification and mobilization of resources and support for UA initiatives. Research implications: Striking a balance between planning and other participation elements is crucial for program success. Additionally, the study reveals that linking social capital plays a significant role in enhancing the positive outcomes of program implementation on economic empowerment. Building strong social connections and collaborations within the community are essential for promoting economic empowerment effectively.

Tubifex sp. is a natural food that fish larvae really like because it contains nutrients that are beneficial for fish growth. Tubifex sp. Generally found in shallow waters of low-flow rivers and to protect the source of Tubifex sp. As a natural food for fish larvae, cultivation must be done by adding nutrients to their food. The aim of this research was to determine the population density of Tubifex sp. by using various types of manure with a recirculation system. This research is an experimental study using a completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 3 replications. The treatment media used were chicken manure (P1), goat manure (P2), cow manure (P3), and chicken, goat and cow manure (P4). The calculation data was tabulated and analyzed using the SPSS program. Parametric data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a confidence value of 95%. If there are differences between treatments, a BNT (Least Significant Difference) test will be carried out. Population density of Tubifex sp. for 30 days, the best was treatment P2 (77063 birds) by giving a mixture of 500 gr of goat manure with 500 grams of organic mud soil, followed by treatment P1 (19564 individuals) with a mixture of 500 grams of chicken manure and organic mud soil. 1500 gr, then followed by treatment P4 (15445 heads) with a mixture of chicken manure, goat manure, cow manure 166.6 gr 500 gr of cow and 1500 gr of organic mud.

An integrated literature review on Urban and peri-urban farming: Exploring research themes and future directions

As the urban populations continue to increase, food insecurity will continue to affect urban residents as well, depriving them of access to abundant and nutritious food. This has captured the attention of many policymakers, urban planners, nonprofits, grassroots movements, and other stakeholders. As a result, there is growing interest in developing new sustainable strategies and policy measures that improve food security through the promotion of sustainable urban agriculture. More than 100,000 Louisville residents, of which 20% are from West Louisville, do not have access to adequate and nutritious foods, and are at a higher risk of developing health issues. West Louisville, with the highest population of the city’s most marginalized residents, is the home to almost 10,000 households receiving federal food assistance (SNAP benefits), and about one-third of these households lack mobility to have access to fresh, healthy, local food. Relatively, little research has documented the barriers to sustainable urban agriculture in Louisville, Kentucky. Specifically, the aim of this study is, “to examine the barriers (social, economic, cultural, and political or policy barriers) to sustainable agriculture in Louisville, and how these barriers can be addressed in a more holistic approach with the full and active participation of all stakeholders.” This study identified gaps in achieving a more sustainable form of agriculture in Louisville and proposed potential policy recommendations. With a mixed-methods approach, inclusive of a survey of forty-two urban farmers (growers) and twenty-six Louisville consumers, semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve key stakeholders (policymakers, planners, and representatives of non-profits) with knowledge and experience about urban agriculture in Louisville, KY. Background information and data about the activities and potentials of urban agriculture in Louisville were also collected and analyzed. This study identified that the two most frequently mentioned barriers were limited access to land (76%) and lack of financial resources or funding (76%). Other barriers were restricted market access (45%), insufficient government or community support (43%), zoning policies (38%), water access and affordability (36%), lack of farming skills/knowledge (30%), and pests and diseases (27%). Addressing these barriers requires significant policy and program initiatives, including, but not limited to: increased access to land and tenure through favorable urban policies (e.g., zoning); increased funding, or provision of more resources; better access to markets by connecting producers to consumers, and the presence of more markets with extended hours and days of operation (especially in West Louisville); more support for urban agriculture from the Louisville

The productivity of narrow land urban can be increased by planting tower growth vertically. The research purpose is to determine the response to growth and yield, as well as the chlorophyll content of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) by planting media composition and types of foliar fertilizer. The research was carried out from January to March 2023 in Wates Village, Magersari District, Mojokerto City. This factorial research consists of two factors and was prepared using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The first factor is the composition of the planting medium with a volume ratio of soil: compost: goat manure which consists of four levels, namely: M1 = 1:1:1; M2 = 2:1:1; M3 = 1:2:1; and M4 = 1:1:2. The second factor is the type of foliar fertilizer which consists of 3 levels, namely: D1 = NASA; D2 = Gandasil D; and D3 = Nutriplan. The research data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). If the treatment has a real effect, then continue the BNJ test at the 5% level. The results of the research showed that the combination treatment of soil: compost: goat manure (1:1:1) and NASA leaf fertilizer increased the total fresh weight and chlorophyll content of lettuce plants and was significantly different from other treatment combinations. The single treatment of soil planting media composition: compost: goat manure 1:1:1 increased plant length, number of leaves, root length, and fresh root weight of lettuce plants the highest and was significantly different from other planting media composition treatments. Gandasil D foliar fertilizer increases plant length, while NASA foliar fertilizer.

Agricultural land in urban areas is increasingly narrow as a result of building and infrastructure development, causing conventional crop cultivation to change to the concept of urban farming. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is one of the commodities suitable for urban farming because basically lettuce is a leaf vegetable plant that has high economic value and has good benefits. Lettuce growth is influenced by several factors including planting media, length of irradiation, type of light, humidity and aeration. Based on this, research related to the length of irradiation and planting media is important to do. This research is expected to provide information in determining the length of irradiation and the right planting media to increase the growth and yield of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) through urban farming methods. This research took place at Wonorejo Seedling Farm, Surabaya, East Java. This research was conducted in a closed room with simulated porch light. Research results for 45 days after planting showed that there was no interaction between the addition of irradiation duration and planting media on all observation variables except root length. Plants that received additional LED light did not show a real effect but were better than plants that did not receive additional length of LED light irradiation.