IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v9y2017i2p310-d90825.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessment of Soil Health in Urban Agriculture: Soil Enzymes and Microbial Properties

Author

Listed:
  • Avanthi Deshani Igalavithana

    (Korea Biochar Research Center & School of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea)

  • Sang Soo Lee

    (Korea Biochar Research Center & School of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea)

  • Nabeel Khan Niazi

    (Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
    Southern Cross GeoScience, Southern Cross University, Lismore 2480, Australia)

  • Young-Han Lee

    (Division of Environment-Friendly Agriculture Research, Gyeogsangnam-Do Agricultural Research and Extension Service, Jinju 52773, Korea)

  • Kye Hoon Kim

    (Department of Environmental Horticulture, The University of Seoul, Seoul 02504, Korea)

  • Jeong-Hun Park

    (Department of Environment and Energy Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea)

  • Deok Hyun Moon

    (Department of Environmental Engineering, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea)

  • Yong Sik Ok

    (Korea Biochar Research Center & School of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea)

Abstract

Urban agriculture has been recently highlighted with the increased importance for recreation in modern society; however, soil quality and public health may not be guaranteed because of continuous exposure to various pollutants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the soil quality of urban agriculture by soil microbial assessments. Two independent variables, organic and inorganic fertilizers, were considered. The activities of soil enzymes including dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, arylsulfatase, urease, alkaline and acid phosphatases were used as indicators of important microbial mediated functions and the soil chemical properties were measured in the soils applied with organic or inorganic fertilizer for 10 years. Fatty acid methyl ester analysis was applied to determine the soil microbial community composition. Relatively higher microbial community richness and enzyme activities were found in the organic fertilizers applied soils as compared to the inorganic fertilizers applied soils. Principal component analysis explained the positive influence of organic fertilizers on the microbial community. The application of organic fertilizers can be a better alternative compared to inorganic fertilizers for the long-term health and security of urban agriculture.

Suggested Citation

  • Avanthi Deshani Igalavithana & Sang Soo Lee & Nabeel Khan Niazi & Young-Han Lee & Kye Hoon Kim & Jeong-Hun Park & Deok Hyun Moon & Yong Sik Ok, 2017. "Assessment of Soil Health in Urban Agriculture: Soil Enzymes and Microbial Properties," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:2:p:310-:d:90825
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/9/2/310/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/9/2/310/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zezza, Alberto & Tasciotti, Luca, 2010. "Urban agriculture, poverty, and food security: Empirical evidence from a sample of developing countries," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 265-273, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Tian, Guangli & Qiu, Husen & Wang, Yuting & Zhou, Xinguo & Li, Dongwei, 2022. "Short-term legacy effects of rice season irrigation and fertilization on the soil bacterial community of the subsequent wheat season in a rice-wheat rotation system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    2. Hanbyul Lee & Seung-Yoon Oh & Young Min Lee & Yeongseon Jang & Seokyoon Jang & Changmu Kim & Young Woon Lim & Jae-Jin Kim, 2020. "Successional Variation in the Soil Microbial Community in Odaesan National Park, Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-13, June.
    3. Nontobeko Gloria Maphuhla & Francis Bayo Lewu & Opeoluwa Oyehan Oyedeji, 2020. "The Effects of Physicochemical Parameters on Analysed Soil Enzyme Activity from Alice Landfill Site," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-15, December.
    4. Roghayeh Vahedi & MirHassan Rasouli-Sadaghiani & Mohsen Barin & Ramesh Raju Vetukuri, 2021. "Interactions between Biochar and Compost Treatment and Mycorrhizal Fungi to Improve the Qualitative Properties of a Calcareous Soil under Rhizobox Conditions," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-15, October.
    5. Zakir Hussain & Limei Deng & Xuan Wang & Rongyang Cui & Gangcai Liu, 2022. "A Review of Farmland Soil Health Assessment Methods: Current Status and a Novel Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-17, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ishak Norziha & Abdullah Rosazlin & Rosli Noor Sharina Mohd & Majid Hazreenbdul & Halim Nur Sa’adah Abdul & Ariffin Fazilah, 2022. "Challenges of Urban Garden Initiatives for Food Security in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia," Quaestiones Geographicae, Sciendo, vol. 41(4), pages 57-72, December.
    2. Lara Cockx & Nathalie Francken, 2016. "Evolution and impact of EU aid for food and nutrition security: a review," Working Papers of Department of Economics, Leuven 540512, KU Leuven, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Department of Economics, Leuven.
    3. Muhammad Mumtaz Khan & Muhammad Tahir Akram & Rhonda Janke & Rashad Waseem Khan Qadri & Abdullah Mohammed Al-Sadi & Aitazaz A. Farooque, 2020. "Urban Horticulture for Food Secure Cities through and beyond COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-21, November.
    4. Suchá, Lenka & Dušková, Lenka, 2022. "Land access mechanisms of Soweto farmers: Moving beyond legal land tenure for urban agriculture," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    5. Leslie Gray & Laureen Elgert & Antoinette WinklerPrins, 2020. "Theorizing urban agriculture: north–south convergence," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 37(3), pages 869-883, September.
    6. Ustaoglu, E. & Sisman, S. & Aydınoglu, A.C., 2021. "Determining agricultural suitable land in peri-urban geography using GIS and Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) techniques," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 455(C).
    7. Anríquez, Gustavo & Daidone, Silvio & Mane, Erdgin, 2013. "Rising food prices and undernourishment: A cross-country inquiry," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 190-202.
    8. George Martin & Roland Clift & Ian Christie, 2016. "Urban Cultivation and Its Contributions to Sustainability: Nibbles of Food but Oodles of Social Capital," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-18, April.
    9. Jan Hassink & Herman Agricola & Esther J. Veen & Roald Pijpker & Simone R. de Bruin & Harold A. B. van der Meulen & Lana B. Plug, 2020. "The Care Farming Sector in The Netherlands: A Reflection on Its Developments and Promising Innovations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-17, May.
    10. Marc Audi & Amjad Ali, 2023. "The Role of Environmental Conditions and Purchasing Power Parity in Determining Quality of Life among Big Asian Cities," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 13(3), pages 292-305, May.
    11. Marc F. Bellemare & Vaneesha Dusoruth, 2021. "Who Participates in Urban Agriculture? An Empirical Analysis†," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 43(1), pages 430-442, March.
    12. Oh, Joo-seok & Kim, Sei-yong, 2017. "Enhancing urban agriculture through participants’ satisfaction: The case of Seoul, Korea," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 123-133.
    13. Mavis Mupeta & Elias Kuntashula & Thomson Kalinda, 2020. "Impact of urban agriculture on household income in Zambia: An economic analysis," Asian Journal of Agriculture and rural Development, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 10(2), pages 550-562, December.
    14. Neda Tiraieyari & Roya Karami & Robert M. Ricard & Mohammad Badsar, 2019. "Influences on the Implementation of Community Urban Agriculture: Insights from Agricultural Professionals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-18, March.
    15. Nadal, Ana & Rodríguez-Labajos, Beatriz & Cuerva, Eva & Josa, Alejandro & Rieradevall, Joan, 2022. "Influence of social housing models in the development of urban agriculture in Mexico," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    16. Sarvenaz Pakravan & Shahin Keynoush & Ehsan Daneshyar, 2022. "Proposing a Pedagogical Framework for Integrating Urban Agriculture as a Tool to Achieve Social Sustainability within the Interior Design Studio," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-32, June.
    17. Allen, James E., 2018. "Are agricultural markets more developed around cities? Testing for urban heterogeneity in separability in Tanzania," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 199-212.
    18. Andrew Dillon & Kevin McGee & Gbemisola Oseni, 2015. "Agricultural Production, Dietary Diversity and Climate Variability," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(8), pages 976-995, August.
    19. Berger, Mira & van Helvoirt, Bram, 2018. "Ensuring food secure cities – Retail modernization and policy implications in Nairobi, Kenya," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 12-22.
    20. Esther Sanyé-Mengual & Daniela Gasperi & Nicola Michelon & Francesco Orsini & Giorgio Ponchia & Giorgio Gianquinto, 2018. "Eco-Efficiency Assessment and Food Security Potential of Home Gardening: A Case Study in Padua, Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-25, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:2:p:310-:d:90825. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.