Evaluation of nutrient management and mulching strategies for vegetable production on an extensive green roof

Whittinghill, Leigh J.; Rowe, D. Bradley; Ngouajio, Mathieu; Cregg, Bert M.

doi:10.1080/21683565.2015.1129011

Cited by 14 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Many intensive green roof mediums provide high organic matter and nutrient content, which allow for a significant amount of root development and above-ground productivity. Yields of deep rooting vegetables such as tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) grown in an intensive green roof were shown to be comparable to those from in-ground conventional agriculture systems [13]. Additionally, other research has also indicated that tomato can effectively be grown in an extensive green roof when adequate fertility and moisture is provided [1].…”

Section: Vegetable Production On Green Roofsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Vegetable production is a definite possibility in urban areas on retrofitted green roofs using minimal growing substrate depths with intensive seasonal maintenance [14]. Rooftop vegetable crop agriculture can be productive on shallow extensive green roofs using standard green roof substrates [13], but maximum productivity in these systems will require high nutrient and irrigation inputs. Although there are several challenges to effectively managing green roof vegetable production systems, they provide a unique opportunity to effectively grow food in spaces that are typically unused [6].…”

Section: Vegetable Production On Green Roofsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although initial green roof mediums often have sufficient fertility for the first growing season, supplemental fertilization is required in following years, with slow-release fertilizers (such as compost or those that are coated with plastic resin or sulfur polymers which slowly break down) often used to reduce the amount of nitrate and phosphate runoff [12]. Due to the composition of extensive green roof substrate mixes, providing supplemental nutrients is essential to maximize vegetable crop plant growth and productivity [1,13]. However, organic matter, such as compost, should not be repeatedly added each successive year to extensive green roofs, as their added weights can cause the roof weight load limit to be exceeded, compromising the roof structure.…”

Section: Nutrient Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Managing substrate fertility is often challenging, since green roof substrates are often engineered with low amounts of organic matter [13], and this provides for high permeability and low cation-exchange capacity [27]. Vegetable yields typically increase with greater fertilizer use, although there is a concern that when high rates are applied to the plant to improve growth, nutrient leaching or runoff may become a problem [28].…”

Section: Nutrient Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sustainability of Urban Agriculture: Vegetable Production on Green Roofs

Walters

Midden

2018

Agriculture

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The practice of producing vegetables on green roofs has been gaining momentum in recent years as a method to facilitate agricultural sustainability in urban areas. Rooftop gardens are becoming an important part of the recent rejuvenation of urban agriculture, and offers alternative spaces to grow vegetable products for urban markets. Green roofs create spaces for the production of vegetable crops, which then generate opportunities for integrating agriculture into urban communities. However, vegetable production activities on rooftops are currently minimal due to multiple challenges that must be overcome before widespread implementation will occur, and these are presented and discussed herein in great detail. Although intensive green roof systems (>15 cm medium depths) are thought to be most suited for vegetable production, the greatest potential for sustained productivity is probably through extensive systems (<15 cm depths) due to weight load restrictions for most buildings. Thus, shallow-rooted vegetables that include important salad greens crops are thought to be the most suited for extensive systems as they can have high productivity with minimal inputs. Research presented herein agree that crops such as lettuce, kale and radish can be produced effectively in an extensive green roof medium with sufficient nutrient and moisture inputs. Other research has indicated that deeper-root crops like tomato can be produced but they will require constant monitoring of fertility and moisture levels. Vegetable production is a definite possibility in urban areas on retrofitted green roofs using minimal growing substrate depths with intensive seasonal maintenance. Rooftop agriculture can improve various ecosystem services, enrich urban biodiversity and reduce food insecurity. Food production provided by green roofs can help support and sustain food for urban communities, as well as provide a unique opportunity to effectively grow food in spaces that are typically unused. The utilization of alternative agricultural production systems, such as green roof technologies, will increase in importance as human populations become more urbanized and urban consumers become more interested in local foods for their families. Although cultivation of food on buildings is a key component to making cities more sustainable and habitable, green roofs are not the total solution to provide food security to cities. They should be viewed more as a supplement to other sources of food production in urban areas.

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Section: Vegetable Production On Green Roofsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Vegetable Production On Green Roofsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Nutrient Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Nutrient Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sustainability of Urban Agriculture: Vegetable Production on Green Roofs

Walters

Midden

2018

Agriculture

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“…Chives (Allium schoenoprasum L.) is an aromatic herb with a perennial growth habit and many self-renewal cycles in the vegetative structures with bulbils (Delahaut and Newenhouse, 2003;Abello et al, 2006;Whittinghill et al, 2013). The leaves are longer than 7 cm with a delicate aroma and are used in fresh consumption, improving the taste of different meals (Bernal et al, 2008;Maročkiene et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of greenhouse heights on the production of aromatic herbs in Colombia. Part 1: Chives (Allium schoenoprasum L.).

Bustamante

Acuña

Valera

2016

Rev. Colomb. Cienc. Hortic.

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The tests were conducted in the municipality of Carmen de Viboral, 40 minutes from the city of Medellin (6º05'09"N and 75º20'19"W, 2.150 m a.s.l.). Three greenhouses with the same dimensions were used, with different channel heights of 2, 2.5, and 3 m, respectively. Temperature and relative humidity measurements were taken every 30 minutes for 3 years, and crop production was assessed. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the height of the greenhouse on climatic conditions generated on a chives crop (Allium schoenoprasum). A multiple linear regression, colinearity analysis, and analysis of heteroscedasticity was performed to determine climatic variations caused by the difference in height between the greenhouses, and to determine differences in production levels. For statistical analysis, the SPSS software was used. The results indicate that, under the studied conditions, the greenhouse height directly affects the internal weather condition, reduction of 1 m in the minimum height of channel (from 3 to 2 m) resulted in an increase of minimum, average and maximum temperature by 0.37°C, 1.42°C and 3.56 °C, respectively, and consequently the chives crop yields, produced a 4.78% higher fresh weight of chives.

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