Introduction – There are different kinds of farming and urban farming is one of them for providing fresh fruits and vegetables and in the same way community gardens helps in connecting with neighbours. But the quality so far of soil has destroyed due to high levels of lead. Such toxic metal is very harmful for brain and nervous system, leading to health problems, especially in children. But recent researcher have initiated with some successive actions for building safer soils.
Research – A team of researcher started collecting sediment dug up from building sites and glaciers that were left in the sediment throughout the area at the end of last ice age. Plants can grow in glacial sediments but difficult to get required nutrients from it. They mixed compost formed from decayed plant materials, rich in nutrients.
The compost and sediment from building sites may get add up to waste stream so, they diverted the landfills and providing service as soil. They tested different combinations of sediment and compost with a 50-50 mixture equally; one part of sediment and two part of compost and many more tests.
Result – Further when result time came the mixture of 50-50 produced more crops than the store bought top soil. Experiments and tests are going on for searching more metal material. The first crop obtained from soil was good to eat. They are testing and growing the crops side-by-side under same conditions.
Reduction – researchers are also finding out the ways to reduce the risks from lead in urban gardens and they have studied how compost can help community gardens. Multiple students has started their project in it and along with this other researchers examined the fine particles in the beds’ soils that comes in direct contact with humans.
Test proved that these particles have 10 times lead than from compost and other test was also conducted but they will be less harmful if eaten as part of a plant. Lead are mixed from other place also like emission from vehicles or houses etc. Presence of higher levels compounds with carbon component can reduce the effect of lead less dangerous. Few other factors like more acidic soil can leach lead from soil.
Conclusion – Chemical make-up can also make soil safer. The levels of lead component are different at various places so, the testing won’t help for one place. Rather it will help in finding places for planting more and more plants. The idea of building soil and adding compost to existing soil looks promising and with continuous research approaches might work. Results will help cities having healthy soil.
