Optimizing Urban Agriculture: Sustainable Food Production Through Hydroponic Systems in Metropolitan Areas

Junaidi; Al Asri Abubakar

doi:10.61579/mikhayla.v3i1.919

Authors

Junaidi Department of Agribussiness, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Jabal Ghafur, Aceh, Indonesia
Al Asri Abubakar Department of Agribussiness, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Jabal Ghafur, Aceh, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61579/mikhayla.v3i1.919

Keywords:

Urban agriculture, Hydroponic efficiency, Food security, Sustainable cities, Lettuce production

Abstract

Urban agriculture has emerged as a vital strategy to mitigate food insecurity and optimize land use in rapidly growing metropolitan areas. This study evaluated the growth performance and water-use efficiency of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) utilizing an automated nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic system compared to traditional soil-based urban farming. The experiment was conducted over a six-week period in a controlled rooftop environment. The data gathered indicated that the hydroponic framework significantly enhanced plant growth vectors, achieving a 35% higher biomass yield and reducing water consumption by approximately 85% compared to the traditional soil control group. Furthermore, the automated nutrient delivery minimized manual intervention, ensuring consistent crop quality. The findings demonstrated that integrated vertical hydroponics offer a highly scalable and resource-efficient solution for commercial urban food production, directly addressing localized space constraints and environmental challenges in modern cities.

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