Plant growth and microbial responses from urban agriculture soils amended with excavated local sediments and municipal composts

Abstract With increasing urbanization and critical issues of food insecurity emerging globally, urban agriculture is expanding as an agroecosystem with a distinct soil type. Growing in cities challenged by legacy contaminants soils, which necessitates the use imported, safe soils composts. To promote long-term sustainability agriculture, we examined agronomic potential constructing safe, locally sourced to support production. We collected composts from four municipal composting facilities New York City: Big Reuse, Long Island City, Queens (BRL), Department Sanitation, Fresh Kills, Staten (DNY), Lower Eastside Ecology Center (LES) Botanic Garden (QBG). then created two types constructed using each compost: 100% pure compost 50:50 blend clean excavated sediments City Clean Soil Bank. assessed growth tomato, pepper kale within plant chamber facility. found Bank enhanced tomato aboveground biomass production 98%, 50% height 52% when mixed BRL. At same time, Sediments decreased 16% 29% LES 18% QBG compost, likely due properties. The addition showed no decline symbiosis arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi across all composts, important beneficial plant–microbe interaction agroecosystems. A positive ecosystem service was were added up 74% decrease greenhouse gas emissions CO2 BRL compost. results indicate that agricultural can be clean, materials, such composted organic waste city development sites sustainable while enhancing services.