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(Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals) (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental) (Università degli Studi di Bologna. Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Alimentari) (KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering) (Università degli Studi di Bologna. Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Alimentari) (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)| Date: | 2026 |
| Abstract: | Tomato is one of the most popular and consumed crops worldwide and its cultivation via hydroponic techniques is widespread. In this study, we evaluated the performance of an evolving management strategy through an iterative system design over 8 years in an integrated-rooftop greenhouse in Barcelona. Yield, solar radiation, water and nutrient consumption, and environmental impacts through Life Cycle Assessment were analysed. We hypothesized that improving irrigation management, partially substituting mineral fertilizers with recovered nutrients, and ensuring optimal solar radiation would enhance tomato productivity while reducing the environmental impact. The highest productivity was obtained in 2023 (49 g plant−1 day−1), in a cycle using 100 g plant−1 of struvite and in a cycle using mineral fertilization. The replacement of deteriorated polycarbonate sheets in 2023 increased greenhouse solar transmissivity and led to the highest productivity. Life Cycle Assessment impacts were mainly driven by crop yields, growing system characteristics, and energy required to power artificial lighting or nebulization systems, among other inputs. The lowest environmental impacts were obtained in the 2017 cycle (0. 54 kg CO2 eq. ) followed by the 2023 cycle (0. 94 kg CO2 eq. ), in which the highest yields were produced thanks to optimal solar transmissivity, dynamic fertigation, and/or struvite. The highest environmental impacts (3. 84–12. 05 kg CO2 eq. ) were achieved in cycles with the lowest productivity (0. 9–3. 3 kg m−2) and in cycles using artificial lighting in the greenhouse (3. 71 kg CO2 eq. ) or in an indoor environment (7. 07 kg CO2 eq. ). Our findings demonstrate that statistically higher yields and environmental sustainability can be achieved by adopting struvite-based fertilization and regularly replacing the greenhouse covering material to ensure maximum light transmissivity. This research provides valuable and novel insights into optimizing tomato cultivation in rooftop greenhouses, achieving constant yields, and reducing the environmental footprints thus contributing to sustainable food production. |
| Grants: | Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2021-126845OB-C21 Agencia Estatal de Investigación TED2021–130047B-C21 European Commission 818002 Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad CTM2013-47067-C2-1-R Agencia Estatal de Investigación CTM2016-75772-C3-1-R Generalitat de Catalunya 2020/PANDE-00021 Generalitat de Catalunya 2023/CLIMA-00041 |
| Note: | Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2024-001506-M |
| Rights: | Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.  |
| Language: | Anglès |
| Document: | Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada |
| Subject: | Circular economy ; Hydroponics ; Life cycle assessment ; Rooftop greenhouse ; Tomato ; Urban agriculture |
| Published in: | Agronomy for Sustainable Development, Vol. 46, Num. 4 (August 2026) , art. 49, ISSN 1773-0155 |
