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May/June 2026
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THE DAVEY BULLETIN
GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH ON TREES IN COMPACTED SOIL
The groundbreaking LTUSS (Long-Term Urban Soil Simulation)
project is well underway at the SEED (Science, Employee
Education, and Development) Campus, testing interventions
for problems associated with urban soils where topsoil has
been removed and subsoil has been compacted. Dr. Chris
Fields-Johnson proposed this project at the Davey Institute's
Research Symposium in November of 2023 and has
continued to develop it since then.
The Davey Institute team planted 1,600 trees across the
compacted soil plots, marking a huge milestone for this
project. Five tree species were planted: pitch-loblolly,
swamp white oak, red maple, paper birch, and tulip poplar.
There are eight 100' x 100' plots in total. Four plots are
natural, nutrient-rich soil (2.3% organic matter) that was
retained when Davey purchased the property. The other four
plots are simulated urban soil (0.7% organic matter) created
using leftover soil from the construction of the corporate
office third wing. Within each plot, there are nine subplots
with differing soil treatments.
This project is groundbreaking, as there has never been a
soil simulation done on such a large, controlled scale. "Poor
soil conditions are something our arborists contend with
all the time," Dr. Zane Raudenbush, manager of research
operations, Davey Institute, said.
"Knowing the best way to amend soils before planting trees
can help save clients a lot of money," Dr. Grant Thompson,
specialist, Davey Institute, said.
The Davey Institute team will monitor these trees for years
to come, providing science-backed recommendations to our
employees and clients based on their findings.
"We will get to study these trees throughout their lifecycle.
We can let them grow for a hundred years or more,
studying their growth and physiology all the way. It is a
generational opportunity for soil and tree science," said
Dr. Chris Fields-Johnson, tree conservation specialist, Davey
Institute, said.
Davey Institute staff Alexander Kramer and Ashley Kloes plant trees
in the compacted soil research plots at the SEED Campus. A total 1,600
trees were planted in the compacted soil research plots.
