Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Titre : CIRCULAR SOIL FOR CITY SPACES : ADVANCING THE CIRCULAR BIONUTRIENT ECONOMY TO SUPPORT URBAN AND PERI-URBAN GARDENERS

Identification : 1029761

Pays : Etats Unis

Durée : START : 01 JUL 2023 TERM : 30 JUN 2027

Objectifs
Project goal:Our overarching goal is to identify and advance pathways to support a shift towards a circular bionutrient economy (CBE) for crop production across the USA. We aim to build on existing urban and peri-urban (UPU) agriculture by developing and implementing raised-bed horticulture systems based on plant growth media produced by combining organic underutilized resources (OURs), with emphasis on the use of human urine as a nutrient source. By recovering useful resources from potentially wasted materials, we will enhance urban agricultural production systems and reduce terrestrial, aquatic and atmospheric pollution.Specific objectives:Objective 1. To determine, through computational analysis, the potential impact of CBE on people and the environment, and to identify specific opportunities for engagement and experimentation at the local scale.1.1. To develop a geo-referenced inventory of organic underutilized resources (OURs ; volumes, current uses and prices) in the US that can be used to produce safe and efficient horticultural media for use in UPU contexts in which adequate land and/or uncontaminated soils are not available.1.2. To conduct spatially explicit scenario analysis of potential resource sources, flows and production environments in the US, as a basis for determining where CBE might be economically feasible, and who might benefit (including both urban and rural resource providers as well as UPU producers).1.3. To assess the potential impacts of CBE implementation on greenhouse gasses (GHGs), water pollution, food insecurity and nutrition across the US.Objective 2. Experimental studies in a high-tunnel on urine-fertilized, raised-bed horticulture to improve methods for crop production using OURs-based media and urine-based fertigation systems that can be used for UPU crop production, and to develop methods to capture the nutrients from urine onto biochar.2.1. To compare different sources of biomass carbon (wheat straw bales v. chopped maize stover), in combination with compost and biochar, in raised-bed media formulations for their effects on plant performance and retention of water, salt, and mass under urine fertigation and different water regimes under high-tunnel conditions (using soil as a reference)2.2. To identify suitable (simple but effective) testing / monitoring methods to track key indicators for use in experimental and practical OURs-based horticultural systems (especially digital ones), to enable effective management of nutrients, water, pH and salt.2.3. To develop efficient methods and protocols for the capture of urinary nutrients on biochar at the scale of an in-line system designed for public toilets, reducing maintenance issues and producing nutrient-enriched soil amendment.Objective 3. Participatory research to advance CBE at Cornell, in Ithaca and its local area ; in neighborhoods of Rochester and surrounds.3.1. To explore and advance Cornell as a learning lab, establishing how far can a university go, in theory/principle, to reduce its environmental footprint through bionutrient circularity.3.2. To work with producers of relevant agricultural residues (especially maize stover and dairy manure waste) to assess the masses/volumes and uses/values of organic by-products, and what would be involved in mobilizing them for novel purposes.3.3. To work with community gardeners in Ithaca and Rochester in Living Lab arrangements, to address and link gardening challenges (nutrient prices ; space and soil constraints) and waste management issues (needs for public toilets ; pee-cycling ; composting).3.4. To work with regulators to understand existing rules and potential pathways to support the emergence of an enabling environment for sociotechnical innovation around UPU CBE-based horticulture at the community and commercial scales.

Financement total : $874,440

Performing Institution : CORNELL UNIVERSITY
Investigator : Nelson, R.

Présentation : USDA (NIFA)