Effects of saltwater intrusion on candidate restoration species in coastal agricultural fields

IF 6.4 1区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment Pub Date : 2025-05-21 DOI:10.1016/j.agee.2025.109757

Patricia Ramalho de Barros , Alison N. Schulenburg , Keryn Gedan , Christopher Miller , Katherine L. Tully

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Sea level rise (SLR) and saltwater intrusion (SWI) along the Eastern Seaboard of the U.S. are reducing crop productivity and driving farmland abandonment. However, planting native marsh species can accelerate the transformation of these degraded fields into thriving tidal marshes, enhancing their ecosystem services. This study evaluates the productivity and element dynamics of six native warm-season grasses, including Panicum amarum, Panicum virgatum, Paspalum floridanum, Spartina patens, Spartina pectinata, and Tripsacum dactyloides on two abandoned agricultural fields in Somerset County, Maryland, USA. Aboveground biomass and plant tissue element concentrations were analyzed to evaluate their potential for use on field edges (buffers) or whole-field restoration efforts. Additionally, soil samples were collected to measure electrical conductivity (EC, as a proxy for salinity) and sodium (Na) concentrations. We found T. dactyloides to be an ideal candidate for salt-affected fields due to its high biomass productivity, efficient phosphorus uptake, and eligibility for several federally-funded conservation practice standards (CPS), including conservation cover (CPS 327) and field borders (CPS 386). Similarly, both Spartina species performed well and exhibited the highest Na accumulation in their tissues, making them ideal candidates for transitional restoration efforts due to their ability to thrive in both saline and non-saline conditions. Moreover, Spartina patens and Spartina pectinata are currently recommended for some conservation practice standards, including CPS 580 (Streambank and shoreline stabilization) and CPS 390 (Riparian herbaceous cover). Collectively, these native grasses offer versatile strategies to mitigate the environmental impacts of SLR and SWI, while supporting ecosystem services essential for maintaining the resilience and long-term sustainability of coastal regions.

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海水入侵对沿海农田候选恢复物种的影响

美国东海岸的海平面上升（SLR）和海水入侵（SWI）正在降低农作物产量，并导致农田被遗弃。然而，种植本地沼泽物种可以加速这些退化的土地向繁荣的潮汐沼泽的转变，增强其生态系统服务。本研究在美国马里兰州萨默塞特县的2个废弃农田上，对6种原生暖季禾草——苦参、野参、佛罗里达雀稗、白米草、果胶米草和驴蹄草的生产力和元素动态进行了评价。分析了地上生物量和植物组织元素浓度，以评估它们在田间边缘（缓冲）或整个田间恢复工作中的应用潜力。此外，还收集了土壤样品来测量电导率（EC，作为盐度的代表）和钠（Na）浓度。我们发现，由于其高生物量生产力，高效的磷吸收，以及几个联邦资助的保护实践标准（CPS）的资格，包括保护覆盖（CPS 327）和田边界（CPS 386）， dactyloides是盐影响田的理想候选者。同样，这两种米草属植物表现良好，在其组织中表现出最高的Na积累，使它们成为过渡恢复工作的理想候选者，因为它们能够在盐水和非盐水条件下茁壮成长。此外，目前推荐的一些保护实践标准包括：CPS 580（河滩和岸线稳定）和CPS 390（河岸草本覆盖）。总的来说，这些原生草提供了多种策略来减轻SLR和SWI的环境影响，同时支持对维持沿海地区的复原力和长期可持续性至关重要的生态系统服务。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

11.70

自引率

9.10%

发文量

392

审稿时长

26 days

期刊介绍： Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment publishes scientific articles dealing with the interface between agroecosystems and the natural environment, specifically how agriculture influences the environment and how changes in that environment impact agroecosystems. Preference is given to papers from experimental and observational research at the field, system or landscape level, from studies that enhance our understanding of processes using data-based biophysical modelling, and papers that bridge scientific disciplines and integrate knowledge. All papers should be placed in an international or wide comparative context.