The production of tomato and strawberry in ecology urban agriculture

Abstract EN

The urban agriculture took more attention during the last two decades not just on global scale but also on local scale for many reasons such as food security and safety, climate change impacts and environmental concerns.

The study was carried out on the roof of the Central Laboratory for Agriculture Climate (CLAC), Agriculture Research Centre, Egypt, during successive two summer seasons for tomato and two winter seasons for strawberry of (2014 - 2015).

The study aimed to investigate the effect of different vermicompost rates mixed with standard substrate perlite (perlite: vermicompost (90: 10) (Mix.10% ), perlite: vermicompost (80: 20) (Mix.20% ), perlite: vermicompost (70: 30) (Mix.30% ) and perlite (100V) (Control)) and nutrient solutions sources (chemical solution, vermi- liquid and chemical and vermi- liquid at constant EC for each crop under the study) on the yield and quality of tomato and strawberry under urban agriculture conditions.

Physical and chemical properties of substrates, vegetative growth, quality characteristics, yield and N, P and K of plant contents and heavy metals contents of fruits in both strawberry and tomato were determined.

The obtained results showed that the vegetative and yield characteristics, chemical quality properties, N, P and K leaves contents and heavy metals contents of tomato and strawberry fruits were affected strongly by vermicompost rate mixed with substrate.

The highest vegetative growth and yield characteristics and N, P and K contents of tomato and strawberry were given by chemical followed by vermi-chemical nutrient solution combined with Mix.30% followed by Mix.20% .

Vermicompost either its application or increasing rate had a positive impact on reducing the heavy metals contents of tomato and strawberry fruits.

The use of vermi-liquid as a nutrient solution and vermicompost as a substrate amendment had a positive impact not just on tomato and strawberry production (food security) via urban agriculture but also on environmental issue and climate change adaptation.