Student Project: Quantifying soil quality improvements of leaf mulch incorporation (Cheng Lab)

Leaf mulching and subsequent incorporation into soils in situ have been piloted in New York City, as a
means to reduce the labor and cost of leaf collection and offsite transportation, as well as to promote
beneficial use of organic waste to improve soil quality for vegetation and stormwater infiltration. This is
an excellent example of efforts to reduce carbon footprint and to achieve carbon neutral by 2050.
However, such improvements have not been quantified or even validated in the field. We are looking for
a student to perform field and lab measurements, to work alongside with NYC agency staff as well a
graduate student at Brooklyn College.