Fertility Management in High Organic Matter System

This project educates farmers about fertility testing and managing high OM systems. It emphasizes fertility management to meet plant nutrition requirements while also addressing compaction, drainage, leaching, nitrogen-cycling, and carbon sequestration. 

A lettuce trial will start at the CNS Research and Education Greenhouse to evaluate the nutrient requirements of different soilless media. 

Students will help with the experiment set up and assist with data collection. 

Name of research group, project, or lab
The Li Lab in Fernald Hall
Website
https://websites.umass.edu/jianyuli/
Why participate in this opportunity?

This project serves urban agriculture (UA) farmers using raised beds due to poor soil quality and field-based farmers following organic/no-till practices that emphasize heavy compost and mulching. Students will have the opportunity to collaborate with regional labs, Extension educators, and research faculty.

Logistics Information:
Subject Category
Horticultural Science
Plant and Soil Science
Sustainable Food & Farming
Student ranks applicable
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Student qualifications

Basic horticultural, crop and soil management background, good communication skills, data collection and analysis, ability to lift heavy materials and ability to work in team. 

Time commitment
8-10 h/wk
Position Types and Compensation
Credit for Research and Teaching
Number of openings
3
Techniques learned

Students will learn how to prepare different substrates ratio.

Students will learn how to record morphological, physiological, and phenological data.

Students will learn how to prepare leaf and substrate samples for nutrient analysis. 

Project start
03/02/2026
Contact Information:
Mentor
Winie Paul
wpaul@umass.edu
Graduate Student
Name of project director or principal investigator
Jianyu Li
Email address of project director or principal investigator
jianyuli@umass.edu
3 sp. | 6 appl.
Time commitment
8-10 h/wk
Subject Category
Plant and Soil Science (+2)
Horticultural SciencePlant and Soil ScienceSustainable Food & Farming