Influence of Soil Type, Fertilizer, and Mulch Amendment in Containerized Polyculture
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Abstract
There are many avenues to address global food supply and global food production increasing food security for individuals and communities. Though corporate agriculture provides the largest percentage of global sustenance through grain monocultures, small-scale, subsistence, intercropping production is another means of direct-to-consumer horticultural supply for additional food security. Due to supply chain disruptions, inferior infrastructure, economic lack, and inaccessible land and/or agricultural equipment, large-scale production is not always feasible in impoverished communities where food security is greatest. This research determines the feasibility of growing “The Three Sisters” polyculture in containerized production as well as fertilizer and mulch amendment recommendations per container for optimal combined harvest weights. With the production model presented in this research, one container would supply an individual with one day of sufficient calories and two days protein, making container polyculture production a feasible means of attaining food security when used as a supplementary production for adequate nutrition.