Factors such as sunlight and stage-specific nutrient application determine crop success in urban agriculture, far beyond fixed recipes or miracle solutions. The findings are published in the journal Agronomy for Sustainable Development.
This is demonstrated by an eight-year study conducted by ICTA-UAB in its building-integrated rooftop greenhouse, which is thermally connected to the facility itself and located on the university campus.
The research, which evaluated 11 tomato crop cycles between 2015 and 2023, analyzes how to optimize food production in cities sustainably and reduce its environmental impact. The analysis highlights that actions such as periodically replacing plastic roof coverings and using alternatives like wastewater-recovered fertilizers maximize crop performance and prevent pollution.
Regarding solar radiation, the study identified the amount of available light as the single most decisive factor for productivity. However, the natural and progressive degradation of the greenhouse's plastic roof panels caused a 31% decline in production over the eight-year period. When the deteriorated panels were replaced in 2023, yields surged by more than 56% compared to the previous year. The researchers recommend replacing these roof coverings every four to six years, rather than the 10 years typically suggested by manufacturers, thereby maintaining high productivity and reducing the overall carbon footprint by 6.7% to 7.7%.
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