Watching Crops Die
Jarrod Miller
University of Delaware
One response to saltwater intrusion in coastal agriculture is to rotate in crops more tolerant to saline soils. On the Delmarva Peninsula we tested a rotation of crops currently being grown, but with higher salt tolerance ratings. This included winter barley, sorghum, and "salt-tolerant" soybeans. Field sites had mixed responses with stress at early vegetative stages that could include the stressors' salinity, drought, and soil saturation. Late season stress and yield reductions came from wildlife. Of these crops, sorghum appeared the most resilient.
Session 1A: Field and Crop Resources
June 11
12:15 - 1:45 pm
Choptank Ballroom
Giant Miscanthus Production on Maryland Eastern Shore's Marginal Land: Grassroots Efforts to Restore Profitable Agriculture
Sarah Hirsh
University of Maryland Extension
The Eastern Shore of Maryland has historically been a productive area for growing conventional grain crops. However, in some areas close to the Chesapeake Bay tributaries or having low elevation, three serious challenges have arisen—saltwater intrusion, frequent flooding events, and increased deer pressure—causing fields to be left fallow or suffer yield losses. We are investigating giant miscanthus (Miscanthus giganteus) as an alternative crop to be grown on marginal land on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Giant miscanthus is a sterile hybrid warm-season grass that was bred to be a biomass crop. Giant miscanthus is currently used on the Eastern Shore in poultry houses as a bedding material. In our study, we planted giant miscanthus on a 10-acre commercially managed field where all three factors (saltwater intrusion, deer pressure, and flooding) were present. Soil sodium levels in the field ranged from 57-510 ppm. Deer cameras and deer grazing observations indicated that the field was heavily trafficked by deer, but the deer did not graze the giant miscanthus. We monitored soil moisture at multiple depths in six areas of the field, indicating that much of the field was saturated during the majority of the year. The giant miscanthus successfully established and grew in these marginal conditions, with a first-year yield average of 2.8 tons per acre.
Growing the Knowledge Base for Saltwater Intrusion Mitigation Options
Scott Snell
USDA-NRCS New Jersey Plant Materials Center
The overarching mission and vision of the USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Program is to assemble and test plants for conservation applications for the development and delivery of vegetative solutions to solve natural resource concerns. Coastal shoreline natural resources conservation is a primary resource concern the New Jersey Plant Materials Center (NJPMC) was established to address. In recent years, a significant focus of the work conducted by the NJPMC has been directed towards the issue of saltwater intrusion on agricultural land of coastal areas in the Mid-Atlantic region. Mitigation options to address marsh migration and the expansion of escalated saltwater intrusion due to climate change induced sea level rise could include converting production of marginal farmland affected by saltwater intrusion to a salt tolerant crop or retiring the land from agricultural production and converting to wildlife habitat. Appropriate plant species and variety selection is critical for the success of both mitigation options. The NJPMC has provided support to collaborative research efforts and conducted independent studies and trials to contribute to the knowledge base to help address the issue of saltwater intrusion on agricultural land. A field comparison trial of three saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens) varieties and ongoing greenhouse plant salinity screening trials are two examples of active studies being conducted by the NJPMC for this purpose. The goal of the NJPMC efforts in this area is to provide conservation planners with information to provide feasible saltwater intrusion mitigation options to landowners and land managers.
Saltwater Intrusion and Agriculture in Hyde County, NC
Andrea Gibbs
NC Cooperative Extension
Saltwater intrusion poses a critical threat to agricultural sustainability in coastal regions like Hyde County, North Carolina, where agriculture is a cornerstone of the local economy. This presentation provides an overview of saltwater intrusion and agriculture in Hyde County, encompassing historical challenges, farmer responses, and past, current, and future research. Hyde County is in an area of the state referred to as the Blacklands. While the Blacklands are known for its highly productive soil, it also comes with a unique set of challenges. Situated at a low elevation and characterized by flat topography, Hyde County receives an annual average rainfall of 50 to 60 inches. To leverage the potential of our rich soils, a network of ditches, canals, pumps, dikes, and tide gates are essential to not only manage water flow but also fend off saltwater intrusion. Saltwater intrusion has been a challenge for Hyde County farmers for decades. Despite the absence of substantial research on saltwater intrusion in North Carolina until 2018, Hyde County’s agricultural community has persevered, drawing upon their ingenuity and resourcefulness to confront this challenge. Since 2018, research initiatives spearheaded by the NC State Extension and East Carolina University have brought much-needed attention to saltwater intrusion in Hyde County. While these endeavors have provided valuable insights, the complexity of the issue requires ongoing research efforts to equip farmers with the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in this environment.