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Soil Based and Simplified Hydroponics Rooftop Gardens

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Rooftop Urban Agriculture

Abstract

By using rooftops for food production, new cultivation areas can be exploited. Soil-based cultivation beds and simplified hydroponics make use of low-input systems, offering accessible food production with low maintenance and low costs. Simplified hydroponic systems are particularly suitable for the installation on rooftops due to their low weight. For low-income families, soil-based and simplified hydroponic systems represent a promising approach to tackle poverty and food insecurity. In this chapter, the potential of these cultivation systems on rooftops will be reviewed. New adaptations and developments in equipment needed for different growing solutions over the last 20 years will be discussed. Emphasis on their special features for rooftop agriculture will be addressed.

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Correspondence to Alfredo Rodríguez-Delfín .

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Rodríguez-Delfín, A., Gruda, N., Eigenbrod, C., Orsini, F., Gianquinto, G. (2017). Soil Based and Simplified Hydroponics Rooftop Gardens. In: Orsini, F., Dubbeling, M., de Zeeuw, H., Gianquinto, G. (eds) Rooftop Urban Agriculture. Urban Agriculture. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57720-3_5

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