Evaluation of the productive, economic, and ecosystem potential of fruit species in urban settings

Abstract

Abstract In the following paper, the possibility of using fruit tree species, including minor fruit trees, in an urban area of Perugia (Italy), was represented, considering their possible productive, ecosystem and economic contribution. The simulated food forest, created through the use of a web app, can be regarded as an "organic green area" in which different fruit trees grow without resorting to the use of synthetic chemicals, respecting the ecosystem and minimizing soil exploitation. Among the four chosen species (Arbutus unedo, Morus nigra, Prunus avium, Ficus carica), both Ficus carica and Morus nigra showed good potential fruit production and storage of CO2 from the environment, in particular, the species Morus nigra had the highest potential economic value, considering fruit selling in a 50-year time frame.