CRUD - Compaction and Remediation of Urban Dirt. This research focuses on soil quality and tree health following soil compaction. Soil remediation is with six common arboricultural amendments: mulch, compost, compost tea, other biological soil amendment, NPK fertilizer, and water. (PI's: B. Scharenbroch and G. Watson; Funding: TREE Fund)
USQI - Urban Soil Quality Index. Urban soils are extremely heterogeneous. Limited information and resources are available for assessing site quality for growing trees in urban soil. This research identifies soil properties that are most informative and practical for predicting urban tree growth and site quality. (PI: B. Scharenbroch; Funding: TREE Fund, NUCFAC-pending)
ARBOCHAR - Arboriculture and Biochar. Biochar is a product of pyrolysis, or “baking” of biomass in low oxygen levels. Biochar has a high affinity for nutrients and long persistance, thus great potential for soil remediation. This research is testing its ability to improve urban soil quality for trees. (PI's: B. Scharenbroch and K. Fite; Funding: TREE Fund)
AACT - Arboriculture and Aerated Compost Tea. Aerated compost teas are proposed to deliver microbes to soil to restore and manage soil biology. This research is testing aerated compost teas for effects on urban soil quality and trees. (PI: B. Scharenbroch; Funding: TREE Fund)
CARBUS - Carbon Storage in Urban Soils.
Carbon sequestration in urban soils is unknown. This research will quantify the storage and dynamics of soil C in urban ecosystems. The pilot project will assess C storage on Chicago Tree Census plots. (PI's: B. Scharenbroch and R. Fahey; Funding: NUCFAC-pending)
SEUSS - Soil Ecology in Urban Structural Soils. This research focuses on soil properties in structural soils in greenroofs and urban tree pits. Specific emphasis is on earthworms and nutrient cycling in these highly-urbanized environments. (PI: B. Scharenbroch)
GRENIUS - Green Infrastructure and Urban Soils. Morton Arboretum parking lot was installed as green infrastructure (permeable pavement, bioswales, etc.) to protect water quality. Water flow and quality is being monitored to assess the effectiveness of this green infrastructure. (PI's: B. Scharenbroch and K. Dreisilker)
SERP - Soil Ecology in Restored and Remnant Prairies. Soil quality may be a key determinant of successful prairie restoration. This research is examining linkages among soil properties and plant diversity and biomass across prairie restorations and remnants in the Chicagoland region. (PI's: B. Scharenbroch and M. Bowles)
SOWS - Soils and Oak Woodland Silviculture. This research examines the effects of canopy and understory manipulation on micro-climate, soils, and oak regeneration. Study plots are in the Morton Arboretum East Woods and throughout the Chicagoland region. (PI's: B. Scharenbroch, M. Bowles, and R. Fahey; Funding: Lake County FPD)
FIBE - Fire and Impacts to the Belowground Ecosystem. Prescribed burning is a common oak woodland management tool. The effects of these low-severity burns on the forest floor and soil are unknown. This research is quantifying those effects in the low-term burn plots in the Morton Arboretum East Woods. (PI's: B. Scharenbroch, M. Bowles, and R. Fahey; Funding: IL DNR)
