ROOFTOP GARDENING

DMAT02047-LAKSHAN RATHNAYAKE
CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE
What is rooftop garden,
 A rooftop garden is an area of vegetation cultivated on the roof of a building.

 It typically involves growing plants, flowers, or even vegetables in containers, raised beds, or directly in
the soil, utilizing the available space on rooftops for gardening purposes. Rooftop gardens can vary in
size and design, ranging from small urban spaces to larger commercial installations, and they offer
numerous benefits such as improved air quality, energy efficiency, stormwater management, and
aesthetic enhancement of urban environments.

Rooftop gardening is a special type of urban agriculture or urban horticulture. Standing on one of the
higher floors of a building, one sees immediately how extremely large the total surface of the roofs in the
city is. These roof spaces are generally unused. They often have good exposure to sunlight and rain, and
they are always available, even in the densest urban areas. Whether in the rain or the sun, a roof garden
always has a lot of character, changing with the season and the time of day, so it will be visited regularly.
Why rooftop gardens are CEA application ?
Rooftop gardens can be considered controlled environment applications because they allow for more
control over factors like temperature, humidity, and sunlight exposure compared to traditional outdoor
gardens.Being situated on rooftops, they often face unique environmental challenges such as wind
exposure and limited space, necessitating careful management of growing conditions to optimize plant
growth and productivity. Additionally, rooftop gardens may utilize technologies like irrigation systems and
greenhouse structures to further regulate the growing environment. Overall, this level of control helps
ensure successful cultivation in a challenging urban setting.
What are the applications used in rooftop gardens?
Several applications are commonly used in rooftop gardens to optimize plant growth and ensure efficient
management.
1. Irrigation systems.
2. Greenhouse structures.
3. Water monitoring systems.
4. Vertical gardening systems.
5. Green roof systems.
 Advantages of roof top gardening ,
Environmental benefits:
Rooftop gardens help mitigate the urban heat island effect by absorbing heat and reducing temperature fluctuations
in buildings, thereby reducing energy consumption for cooling. They also absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, and
filter pollutants from the air, improving overall air quality.
Stormwater management:
Green roofs and rooftop gardens absorb rainwater, reducing stormwater runoff and alleviating pressure on urban
drainage systems. This helps prevent flooding and erosion while replenishing groundwater supplies.
Biodiversity and habitat creation:
Rooftop gardens provide habitat for birds, insects, and other wildlife, contributing to urban biodiversity and
promoting ecological balance in urban areas.
Efficient use of space:
Rooftops provide valuable space for gardening in densely populated urban areas where land is limited, allowing
individuals to grow food or create green spaces without occupying additional ground space.
Food production:
Rooftop gardens can be used to grow a variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers, providing fresh,
organic produce to urban dwellers and reducing reliance on imported food.