Source: UNIV OF MARYLAND submitted to
ADAPTING AGROECOSYSTEMS TO SALTWATER INTRUSION AND MITIGATING NUTRIENT LOSSES FROM COASTAL FARMLANDS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1015143
Grant No.
2018-68002-27915
Cumulative Award Amt.
$1,126,000.00
Proposal No.
2017-07356
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
May 1, 2018
Project End Date
Apr 30, 2025
Grant Year
2018
Program Code
[A3171]- Climate and Land Use
Project Director
Tully, K.
Recipient Organization
UNIV OF MARYLAND
(N/A)
COLLEGE PARK,MD 20742
Performing Department
Plant Science & Landscape Arch
Non Technical Summary
As global sea levels rise, low-lying coastal lands are subject to shallow coastal flooding and saltwater intrusion (SWI) affecting the productivity of farmlands worldwide. The North American Coastal Plain, and the Chesapeake Bay region, in particular, are experiencing rates of sea level rise twice the global average. SWI reduces soil quality, crop productivity, and increases the mobility of nitrogen and phosphorus into local waterways. Our project directly addresses this challenge area's goals by determining potential adaptation strategies for managing climate-induced SWI risk and by examining biophysical, socio-economic, and policy drivers of risks and resiliencies in agroecosystems experiencing climate change and variability. Specifically, our research will (1) investigate farmer land use response to SWI and economic and policy factors affecting adaptation decisions; (2) determine the effect of SWI on productivity and survival of crop and non-crop species; (3) identify biogeochemical changes that accompany SWI and their impact on water quality; and (4) examine tradeoffs among economic and environmental outcomes from adaptation choices to determine how policies may enhance agricultural sustainability. Our extension portfolio will (1) provide user-driven, science-based solutions to farmers experiencing SWI; (2) develop an extension education module to be used in regional programs, commodity board meetings, and trade shows to educate farmers on how to manage SWI; (3) engage with Mid-Atlantic extension educators through train-the-trainer events to help them identify SWI and manage risk. We will combine extension activities, field trials, greenhouse experiments, empirical landcover analysis, and bioeconomic analysis to jointly enhance agricultural productivity, farm profitability, and environmental quality.
Animal Health Component
60%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
25%
Applied
60%
Developmental
15%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1020110200020%
1031599107040%
6056030301020%
1320199106020%
Knowledge Area
103 - Management of Saline and Sodic Soils and Salinity; 102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships; 605 - Natural Resource and Environmental Economics; 132 - Weather and Climate;

Subject Of Investigation
0110 - Soil; 1599 - Grain crops, general/other; 0199 - Soil and land, general; 6030 - The farm as an enterprise;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1070 - Ecology; 2000 - Chemistry; 3010 - Economics;
Goals / Objectives
Our long-term goal is the development of agroecosystems that are resilient in the face of rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion. The specific objective of this integrated research and extension proposal is to develop management strategies and policy frameworks that can balance farmer needs and environmental health on coastal farms that are losing land to saltwater intrusion. In particular, we will explore the effect of saltwater intrusion on plant productivity and nutrient loss in experimental field trials and greenhouse experiments, examine past patterns of agricultural land cover changes in response to saltwater intrusion risk using empirical analysis, and develop a bioeconomic model for examining tradeoffs among economic and environmental objectives from farmer management choices. Our aim is to identify practices that maximize farm profitability while minimizing nutrient losses to ground and surface waters and identify policies that could enhance efficiency in agricultural systems.Our research objectives are to:Understand how farmers have responded and will respond to SWI, how various policy and economic factors may affect those adaptation decisions, and the effects of farmer adaptation choices on farm profitability and productivity.Determine the effect of SWI on the productivity and survival of different plant species (crop and non-crop).To identify the underlying biogeochemical processes that accompany SWI on coastal farmland and their impact on water quality outcomes.Define tradeoffs among economic and environmental outcomes and to identify how policies (e.g. cost-share programs, conservation programs, crop insurance) may alter incentives to adopt adaptation strategies that may improve economic and environmental outcomes.Our extension objectives are to:Provide user-driven, science-based solutions to farmers whose fields are affected by SWI.Develop an extension education module that can be used in regional extension programming at field days, workshops, commodity board meetings and trade shows that will educate farmers on how to best manage SWI.Engage with Mid-Atlantic extension educators through train-the-trainer events, provide them with study results and training materials on SWI.
Project Methods
Research Objective 1: Farmer response to SWI and impacts on economic well-being.We will address farmer response to coastal SWI through farmer interviews/surveys, empirical analysis of past land use change, and bioeconomic analysis of agricultural land use choices. We will conduct structured interviews/surveys of farmers and other agricultural stakeholders in coastal areas of the Eastern Shore of MD to better understand farmers' management objectives and constraints in the face of SWI, their perceptions and experience regarding SWI risk, past and anticipated management responses, and the economic and policy factors affecting those decisions. We also will address farmers' perceived costs and benefits from land conversion to alternative non-agricultural land covers.We will develop an empirical model of site-level agriculrual adaptaion to SWI and sea level rise across the Mid-Atlantic Chesapeake Bay coastal region using a variety of geospatial land cover datasets and climate, economic, and policy data. The objective of the analysis will be to empirically identify how agricultural land cover has changed in the region over the past two decades and how SWI risk, economic, climatic, and policy factors contribute to these changes.We will develop a bioeconomic model of farmer land-use decision-making in the presence of non-stationary (time-varying) exogenous risk of SWI and eventual inundation from sea level rise. We will adapt specific modeling questions, approaches, and objective specifications based on findings from our interviews/surveys with farmers regarding their management objectives, constraints, informational needs, and perceptions about changing salinity conditions. We will use model outcomes to characterize how biophysical, economic, and policy systems interact with SWI risk to affect land use decisions and farm profitability and productivity.Research Objectives 2 and 3: Effect of SWI on plant productivity and biogeochemistry.We will work with three farmers in Somerset Co. and Dorchester Co., MD who own and operate salt-damaged fields that are near a tidal estuary. We will establish experimental plots of the following six test species: (1-3) sorghum, salt-tolerant soybean, and barley with each rotation entry point present and a cover crop of rapeseed; (4) switchgrass; (5) marsh hay (Spartina patens); and (6) unmanaged control (corn-soy-wheat in rotation on nearby salt-damaged fields). We will track monthly plant growth and survival throughout the growing season and collect crop yield (sorghum, soy, barley, and switchgrass) and non-crop productivity and tissue nutrient data.Field trials will be complemented by studies of salinity and flooding tolerance of each test species in a controlled greenhouse environment, to investigate the mechanisms of crop or non-crop tolerance and enhance crop choice information for farmers affected by SWI. In the greenhouse, plants will be grown in three saturation levels (drained, fluctuating, and waterlogged) within basins of four salinities (0, 1, 3, and 7 ppt). Fluctuating water levels will be accomplished with an ebb and flow system (McHugh and Dighton 2004). Measurements of plant viability and fitness will be made during three life history stages: germination, growth, and reproduction.In order to determine the effect of different cropping treatments on nutrient accumulation and losses we will collect soils (to 100 cm) before, during, and after the field experiment. We will track soil texture, pH, iron, aluminum, total carbon and N, inorganic N, bioavailable P, chloride and sulfate, as well as standard soil health measures. At each site, we will install a 3 m well to collect continuous water level and salinity data and tension lysimeters to collect porewater following major storm events for analysis of porewater salinity, phosphate, total P, nitrate, ammonium, total N, and dissolved organic N.Research Objective 4: Tradeoffs among economic and environmental outcomes.We will synthesize findings from our spatial analyses, experimental trials, and bioeconomic model to characterize tradeoffs among farm profitability, productivity and environmental quality objectives. We will extend the bioeconomic model described under objective 1 to explore tradeoffs resulting from different cropping decisions dependent on the policy, information, and biophysical context. Understanding these tradeoffs, and the factors affecting them, will help inform the design of agricultural and conservation policies and outreach.Extension Objective 1: User-driven, science-based solutions for farmers.An Internal Review Board (IRB) certified survey will be developed to determine the needs of coastal farmers in relation to SWI in May-June 2018. The needs assessment will address the perceived effects of SWI on crops, soil quality, and the environment. The needs assessment will determine how farmers wish to receive information - the type of information, preferred format (e.g. newsletters, email, website, in-person, field-days), and the frequency of communication.We will host focus-groups at the Somerset and Dorchester Co. SCD offices at project initiation. Those farmers and stakeholders (agricultural extension agents, soil conservation districts, etc.) who are interested will be invited to attend annual meetings and all participants will be invited to the Capstone Saltwater Intrusion Meeting. Annual meetings will allow us to update stakeholders on our progress and to receive timely information about challenges, market opportunities, and field observations. Field days will be held in the fall of years 2, 3 and 4 to demonstrate the results of the research. Educational talks on salt-affected soils, SWI, and the results of this research will be given at winter agronomy meetings on the Eastern Shore, the Mid-Atlantic Women in Agriculture Conference, Women in Agriculture webinars, Mid-Atlantic Crop School, and UMD Nutrient Management webinars.Extension Objective 2: Extension education module.An extension education module will be developed using established knowledge and findings from our proposed research on saline soils and management. Three modules are proposed, including 1) an overview of current and predicted soil-water interface conditions on the Eastern Shore and information as to how to determine if a soil is saline, 2) management options for saline soils and fields undergoing SWI, and 3) cost-benefit analyses using decision trees to determine at which point changes in management are warranted as SWI progresses.Extension Objective 3: Train-the-trainer events.Mid-Atlantic Extension educators will be targeted through educational talks at the same events that target the public (e.g. Women in Agriculture Conference, Mid-Atlantic Crop School). Extension educators will also be targeted at scientific conferences (e.g. the Northeastern Plant Health and Pest Conference, the annual TriSocieties meeting). A train-the-trainer workshop will be developed to assist agricultural professionals in delivering the modules outlined above, with a focus on Module 3 (wherein participants may request active assistance from educators based on the material and their unique field conditions).

Progress 05/01/23 to 04/30/24

Outputs
Target Audience:We held our fifth stakeholder meeting on 24 Feb 2023 in person at the Somerset Soil Conservation District Office (and also over Zoom). We had 36 in-person participants and 24 virtual participants. As a team, we gave 11 academic presentations, served on 1 panel, and gave 5 extension presentations. We published one conference proceeding, one peer-reviewed article, we have one journal articlein revision and 1 in review. The breakdown by PI is below. Dr. Kate Tully and her students gave 5 academic presentations, and served on 1 panel/outreach presentation. We have 1 paper in revision and 1 in review. Dr. Keryn Gedan gave 1 academic and 1 extension and outreach presentations. One paper was published during the reporting period. Dr. Jarrod Miller gave 1 extension outreach talks in the Mid-Atlantic region.Dr. Rebecca Epanchin-Niell gave 5 academic presentations and 3 extension and outreach presentations, and 1 podcast. One conference proceeding paper was published during the reporting period. Over the reporting period, our work has been featured in regional and national news outlets on a variety of platforms. Podcasts: Epanchin-Niell, R. "When Freshwater Gets Salty." Resources Radio. Hosted by Margaret Walls. Oct. 24, 2023 Radio: Public New Service. Study: Thousands of acres of MD farmland facing saltwater intrusion. Bret Preveto. September 28, 2023 Changes/Problems:No changes to protocols. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During the reporting period, we graduated 1 PhD student and 1 MS student who were associated with the research project. This year, we were able to send students to annual meetings and greatly increased the opportunities for professional development. Students were able to attend extension events, meet with stakeholders, and present their work to the research team. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?As a team, we gave 11 academic presentations, served on 1 panel, and gave 5 extension presentations. We published one conference proceeding, one peer-reviewed article, we have one journal article in revision and 1 in review. ? What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We have completed our collection phase of the project. Over the next reporting period we will focus on publishing our work in scientific journals and presenting to stakeholders and researchers. We are also planning our Saltwater Intrusion and Sea Level Rise Conference, which we will hold in 2024. We meet every other week, have organized speakers, field trips, keynote speakers, evening events. We hope to have a large turnout for this event.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Research Obj 1 (farmer response to SWI): Examined role of berms in delaying land transition out of agriculture. Research Obj 2 (effect of SWI on plants): We collected our final year of biomass in August of 2022. We did not collect biomass in 2023. Plant P analysis is complete. Plant cation analysis is complete. Prepared and submitted manuscript on plant, soil, and water P dynamics. Prepared and submitted manuscript on plant and soil Na, Mg, Ca, and K dynamics. Laboratory elemental analysis of carbon and nitrogen concentration in plant tissue is complete for 2018, 2019, 2020. Data analysis of carbon and nitrogen concentration in plant tissue was started. Data analysis of plant productivity (switchgrass, saltmarsh hay, and weeds) is complete. Data analysis of crop productivity in preparation for manuscript submission (soybean, sorghum, barley). Research Obj 3 (effect of SWI on soil and water quality): Soil porewater analysis is complete. Year four (2022) soils collected in November. We did not collect soils in 2023. Soil P analysis is complete (total and Mehlich) for 2018-2022. Laboratory elemental analysis of carbon and nitrogen concentration in soil is complete for 2018 and 2021. Soil cation analysis is complete for 2018 and 2021. Prepared and submitted manuscript on plant, soil, and water P dynamics. Prepared and submitted manuscript on plant and soil Na, Mg, Ca, and K dynamics. Updated soil salinity analysis to develop SWI risk map, including Incorporation of inundation metric for refined soil salinity mapping and prediction. Research Obj 4 (SWI tradeoffs): Estimating agricultural production and profit functions dependent on salinization levels. Extension Obj 1 (solutions to farmers): One on one advice to farmers, agribusinesses, and crop consultants in Delaware and Maryland on dealing with saline soils and interpreting sodium levels. Extension Obj 2 (extension module): Updated the Delmarva Saltwater Intrusion website, joined with past information from UD on saltmarsh grasses. Extension Obj 3 (train-the-the trainer): Crop consultants attending the Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School were updated on the role of salinity in reducing crop growth in our region.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2024 Citation: Schulenburg A. Miller J, Gedan K, Tully K. Management strategies for reducing phosphorus levels in saltwater-intruded agricultural fields [in revision]. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2024 Citation: Schulenburg A. Miller J, Gedan K, Tully K. The chemical signature of saltwater intrusion on plant and soil cation dynamics on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland [in review]. Plant and Soil.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: DiCara, C. and Gedan, K. 2023. Distinguishing the Effects of Stress Intensity and Stress Duration in Plant Responses to Salinity. Plants, 12: 2522. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12132522
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Epanchin-Niell, R. Coastal agricultural land use adaptation to sea level rise and saltwater intrusion. Applied Economics & Statistics, University of Delaware, 24 April 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Epanchin-Niell, R. Coastal agricultural land use adaptation to sea level rise and saltwater intrusion. Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, VA Tech, 29 April 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Epanchin-Niell, R. Adaptation of agricultural land use to sea level rise and saltwater intrusion. University of Maryland AGNR Cornerstone Event: Advancing Innovative, Profitable, and Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems. College Park, Maryland, October 24, 2023.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Epanchin-Niell, R.S., Thompson, A., Han, X., Post, J., Miller, J., Newburn, D., Gedan, K. and Tully, K., 2023. Coastal agricultural land use response to sea level rise and saltwater intrusion. American Applied Economics Association Annual Meeting, Washington, DC. 25 July 2023.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Epanchin-Niell, R. Sea Level Rise and Saltwater Intrusion in the Chesapeake Bay. University of Maryland, Dept. of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science. Guest lecture in Oceanography of the Chesapeake and Mid-Atlantic (AOSC421). 5 May 2023.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Tully, K. Saltwater intrusion on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Boston University, 10 Apr 2023.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Tully, K. Salty waters unlock soil secrets: the biogeochemistry of saltwater intrusion on coastal farmlands. Department of Geology, University of Maryland. 13 Oct 2023.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Tully, K. La biogeoqu�mica de la intrusi�n de agua salada en las tierras agr�colas costeras. Pontificia Universidad Cat�lica de Chile. 19 Mar 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Tully, K. Salty waters unlock soil secrets: the biogeochemistry of saltwater intrusion on coastal farmlands. Maryland Department of the Environment. 19 Oct 2023.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Sharp, S.J., Tully, K. Species matter: How soil carbon and greenhouse gas dynamics differ across plant communities experiencing saltwater intrusion. Mid-Atlantic Section American Society of Plant Biologists, University of Maryland. 24 May 2023.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Jobe, Justus. Beyond the Fields Edge: Understanding How Adjacent Habitats Influence Crop Damage. 2022 The Wildlife Society Conference. Louisville, KY. 5 Nov 2023.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Blew, W. Shober, A.L., and Miller J.O. Soil mapping and routine testing for identification and management of climate-induced coastal soil salinity. ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting, Nov 2023.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Epanchin-Niell, R. Coastal agricultural land use adaptation to sea level rise and saltwater intrusion. Innovations in the Science & Policy of Water Quality Measurement Conference, Caltech, 11 April 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Epanchin-Niell, R. Invasion of Another Sort: Saltwater Intrusion on the Delmarva Peninsula. MD Department of Agricultures Western MD Forest Pest Update 2024. New Germany State Park, 28 Feb 2024 [Invited talk]
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Tully, K. US Botanic Garden. Cocktails & Conversations. Panelist discussing saltwater intrusion and sea level rise impacts on coastal farmlands. 26 Oct 2023. [outreach panel]
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Epanchin-Niell, R. How can we advance Chesapeake Bay Program science-based resource management? Chesapeake Bay Program Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee Quarterly Meeting. Baltimore, MD. 13 Sept 2023. [outreach panel]
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Blew, W. Shober, A.L., and Miller J.O. Soil mapping and routine testing for identification and management of climate-induced coastal soil salinity. University of Delaware College of Agriculture Research Symposium. Newark, DE. 16 Nov 2023. [poster]
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Miller, J.O. Climate Change in Delmarva Field Crop Production. National Academies Sciences Engineering Medicine. Climate Crossroads Congressional Fellowship. Cambridge, MD. March 16, 2024. [extension presentation]
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Miller, J.O., Tully, K., Gedan, K, and Epanchin-Niell, R. Crop responses to coastal soil salinity and saturation. Wandering Delmarvas Waterways. Field Workshop. Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. New Church, VA. April 4, 2024. [extension presentation]
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Miller J. Delmarva Saltwater Intrusion https://sites.udel.edu/delmarvasalt/ Provides resources for stakeholders.


Progress 05/01/22 to 04/30/23

Outputs
Target Audience:We held our fourth stakeholder meeting on 16 Feb 2022 virtually. We had 32 participants including NRSC, Soil Conservation Districts, farmers, and the Assistant Secretary, Resource Conservation at the Maryland Department of Agriculture. We held our fifth stakeholder meeting on 24 Feb 2023 in person at the Somerset Soil Conservation District Office (and also over Zoom). We had 36 in-person participants and 24 virtual participants. Dr. Kate Tully and her students gave 1 academic presentation, 2 posters, and 2 extension and outreach presentations. Dr. Keryn Gedan gave 6 academic and 1 extension and outreach presentations. Dr. Jarrod Miller gave 3 extension outreach talks in the Mid-Atlantic region. Dr. Rebecca Epanchin-Niell gave 2 academic presentations and 2 extension and outreach presentations. Changes/Problems:Dr. Tully was on maternity leave during the fall of 2022, but most field activities occurred on time. Her absence has slowed the publication of results and pushed back the expected date of the 2024 Conference. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have graduated one PhD student and 2 MS students, and are currently advising two MS students, two PhD student, and training a junior career research assistant. This year, we were able to send students to annual meetings and greatly increased the opportunities for professional development. Students were able to attend extension events, meet with stakeholders, and present their work to the research team. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We held an in-person stakeholder meeting and delivered 10 academic talks, 7 extension talks, and 5 posters. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We have completed our collection phase of the project. Over the next reporting period we will focus on publishing our work in scientific journals and presenting to stakeholders and researchers. We are also planning our Saltwater Intrusion and Sea Level Rise Conference, which we will hold in 2024. ?

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Research Obj 1 (farmer response to SWI): Developed model estimating farmer adaptation to SWI and SLR through land use decisions, at the parcel and field level, across 3 low-lying counties along MD's eastern shore. Models link site elevation, inundation frequency, tidal water salinity, and soil attributes to landcover and crop rotation choice over a 10 year time horizon across private agricultural lands. Modeling results are then linked to SLR and tidal fluctuation predictions over the coming decades to project potential land use consequences of farmer adaptation decisions, with consequences for farm profitability and ecosystem service provisioning. Research Obj 2 (effect of SWI on plants): Collected biomass from fourth year of field trials was sorted, dried, and weighed. Analyzed CN content of plant tissue samples from Years 1 and 2 of field trials, and prepared Year 4 for analysis. Digested plant tissue for total element content (P, Na, Ca, K, and Mg). Analyzed all of 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 plant leaf tissue samples for P. Digested crop grain for total element content (P, Na, Ca, K, and Mg). Analyzed all 2019, 2020 and 2021 crop grain samples for P. Plant samples from all four sites (AL, BN, GR, and PH), all plots (P1-P24), and only extreme sections (0-5 and 15-20 m) from 2019 and 2021 have been sent to Penn State for Ca, K, Mg, and Na analysis on ICP (plant leaf tissue and crop grains). Collected drone imagery to correlate to yield and productivity. Data analysis of plant productivity (switchgrass, Spartina, and weeds). Data analysis of crop productivity (soybean, sorghum, barley). Research Obj 3 (effect of SWI on soil and water quality): Collected data on EC using YSI from wells (every 2-4 weeks) Continuous data on water level from pressure transducers deployed in wells at each site. Year four (2022) soils collected in November. Electrical conductivity analyzed in 2018, 2019, 2020 soil solution samples. Electrical conductivity in soils (0-10) analyzed for 2019, 2018, 2020. Finishing 2021 EC. Analyzed 2019 and 2021 soils for Mehlich-3 available P and total P. Analyzed geospatial predictors of soil salinity measures to develop SWI risk map. Linked salinity data to newly developed inundation metric and identified threshold relationship between them that we used for preliminary soil salinity mapping and prediction. Conducted geospatial exploration to identify potential contextual features associated with observed salinity including slope, berm presence, soil types, distance to tidal waters, etc. Research Obj 4 (SWI tradeoffs): Refined economic assessment of potential crop losses in SWI affected agricultural areas to develop estimate potential economic costs of salt water intrusion in agricultural regions of the DelMarva peninsula. Extension Obj 1 (solutions to farmers): Held fifth annual stakeholder meeting in-person with a virtual option, which allowed us to invite a wider audience. One on one advice to farmers, agribusinesses, and crop consultants in Delaware and Maryland on dealing with saline soils and interpreting sodium levels. Extension Obj 2 (extension module): Updated the Delmarva Saltwater Intrusion website, joined with past information from UD on saltmarsh grasses. Shared initial findings on saltwater intrusion risk with Maryland DNR for incorporation in several state park adaptation plans Extension Obj 3 (train-the-the trainer): Crop consultants attending the Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School were updated on the role of salinity in reducing crop growth in our region.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Schulenburg, A**, Tully, K., Miller, J., Gedan, K. Improving Soil Health and Plant Productivity on Coastal Agricultural Fields Facing Saltwater Intrusion on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting (Presentation) American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America, Baltimore, MD, United States. (November 7, 2022).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: K. Gedan, Sea level rise effects on coastal forest, Biof�rum 2022, Universidad de Campinas, Brazil, 2022 Sep
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: K. Gedan, Tidal marsh migration and coastal forest retreat in the Mid-Atlantic, American University, Environmental Science Department, 2022 Mar
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Schulenburg, A**, Tully, K., Miller, J., Gedan, K. Management Options for Farmers Facing Saltwater Intrusion on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay Invited, Delmarva Soil Summit, (Presentation) USDA NRCS, Salisbury, MD, United States. (February 7, 2022).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Epanchin-Niell, R. Communities, Policy, Economics and SWISLR. Webinar series for SWISLR RCN. March 3, 2023. Invited panelist; virtual.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2023 Citation: Epanchin-Niell, R. Rural Coastal adaptation to salt water intrusion and sea level rise. Dept. of Agricultural Economics, University of Maryland. Admitted students workshop. March 27, 2023.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Justus Jobe, Beyond the Fields Edge: Understanding How Adjacent Habitats Influence Crop Damage, Wildlife Society Conference, 2022 Nov
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: K. Gedan, Sea level rise effects on coastal forest, Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Department (CIMA), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2022 Oct
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: K. Gedan, Sea level rise effects on coastal forest, Universidad Nacional de San Mart�n, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, 2022 Dec
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: K. Gedan, Sea level rise effects on coastal forest, Agricultural Plant Physiology and Ecology Research Institute (IFEVA),, School of Agronomy, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2022 Oct
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Schulenburg, A.**, Tully, K., Miller, J., Gedan, K. Management Options for Farmers Facing Saltwater Intrusion on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting, (Poster) American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America, Baltimore, MD, United States. (November 8, 2022 - 2022).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Sharp, S.***, Tully, K. Understanding the role of plant communities in regulating carbon dynamics across ecosystems, Critical Zone Network All Hands Meeting, (Poster) National Science Foundation, Newark, DE, United States. (August 1, 2022 - 2022).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: E. Banzer and K. Gedan. Elevation as an Indicator of Crop Health in Salt Inundated Fields. Harlan Research Symposium (Poster). George Washington University, Washington, DC, (October 11, 2022).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Carter, M.**, Miller, J.O., and Shober, A.L. 2022. The effect of saltwater intrusion on plant germination. University of Delaware Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium [Hybrid/Virtual]. August 11, 2022.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Blew, W.C*., Miller, J.O., Shober, A.L., and Angeletakis, G. 2022. Comparisons of Mehlich3 and saturated paste extractions on soils undergoing saltwater intrusion. ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting. Baltimore, MD, United States (November 6-9, 2022).
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Schulenburg A. 2023. Management options for farmers facing saltwater intrusion on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. M.S. thesis submitted to the University of Maryland Graduate School.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Mapping Crop Production Through Drones and Apparent Electrical Conductivity (Includes overview of drone mapping salinity). Lower Shore Precision Ag Day. March 30, 2022.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: University of Delaware Precision Agriculture Program (Includes overview of drone mapping salinity). Research Center Administrators Society (RCAS) Summer Tour. Harbeson, DE. September 13th, 2022.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Schulenburg, A**, Tully, K., Gedan, K., Miller, J. Management options for farmers facing saltwater intrusion on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay Invited,, Research Recap Nutrient Management Session, (Presentation) University of Maryland Extension, Virtual. (February 2, 2022 - 2022).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Schulenburg, A**, Tully, K., Miller, J., Gedan, K. Management Options for Farmers Facing Saltwater Intrusion on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Saltwater Intrusion Stakeholder Meeting, (Presentation) Princess Anne MD, United States. (February 24, 2023).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Epanchin-Niell, R. et al. Risk mapping of saltwater intrusion in Maryland. 2023 Saltwater Intrusion Stakeholder Meeting. Feb. 24, 2023. Princess Anne, MD.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Epanchin-Niell, R. Socio-environmental perspectives on tidal wetland restoration in the Chesapeake Bay. Integrating Wetlands into Agricultural Landscapes - NFWF Ag Networking Forum/Listening Session. Jan. 12, 2023. [Invited presentation and panelist; virtual]
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Epanchin-Niell, R. & Miller, J. Climate Vulnerability Assessment for Maryland Agriculture  Research Convening. Maryland Department of Agriculture, Annapolis, MD. Sept. 22, 2022. Invited Workshop Participants.
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Miller J. Delmarva Saltwater Intrusion https://sites.udel.edu/delmarvasalt/ Provides resources for stakeholders.


Progress 05/01/21 to 04/30/22

Outputs
Target Audience:We held our third stakeholder meeting on 19 Feb 2021 virtually due to the pandemic. We had over 30 participants including NRSC, Soil Conservation Districts, farmers, and the Assistant Secretary, Resource Conservation at the Maryland Department of Agriculture. We held our fourth stakeholder meeting on 16 Feb 2022 virtually. We had 32 participants NRSC, Soil Conservation Districts, farmers, and the Assistant Secretary, Resource Conservation at the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Dr. Kate Tully and her students gave 3 academic presentations and 2 extension and outreach presentations. Dr. Keryn Gedan gave 2 academic and 1 extension and outreach presentations. Dr. Jarrod Miller gave 3 extension outreach talks in the Mid-Atlantic region. Dr. Rebecca Epanchin-Niell gave 1 academic presentation and 2 extension and outreach presentations. Over the reporting period, our work has been featured in regional and national news outlets on a variety of platforms (e.g. TV, radio, digital, and print media). Magazines: 11/2021 Chesapeake Bay Magazine: "Ghost story" by John Upton here ?YouTube: Maryland's Changing Landscapes - Forests and Communitieshttps://youtu.be/yKDtaUTmB7I Scripps Media / TV: Sea level rise leading to growing number of coastal 'ghost forests' by Maya Rodriguez here Changes/Problems:The COVID-19 pandemic delayed some aspects of the project, but we were able to recover well from last year. We were able to plant and harvest on time as well as collect all necessary samples. Economic analysis is back on track. We feel proud to be making such good progress despite many restrictions last year. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have graduated one PhD student, one MS student,and are currently advising two MS students, one PhD student, and training a junior career research assistant. During the pandemic, it was impossible for them to attend conferences in-person. Thus, most professional development experiences were stymied. However, as some events are beginning to be held in-person, graduate students are starting to attend conferences and networking events. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Despite the pandemic, we held a virtual stakeholder meeting and delivered 5 academic talks and 6 extension talks. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to collect and analyze data on schedule, present our research in both academic and extension venues, and produce scientific manuscripts. We will also begin planning for our SWI Symposium, which we want to hold in 2024.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Research Obj 1 (farmer response to SWI): Expanded modeling of land use change responses to saltwater intrusion along several fronts, such that we have models prediction to include both a cross-sectional crop rotation model and a panel mode of agricultural conversions. Analyses span 6 counties along MD's eastern shore. Incorporated depth to water table and several new soils variable associated with land use decisions, but which are exogenous to salt water intrusion, unlike hydric soils which we had been using previously as a control variable Developed a panel model, in addition to the cross-sectional model, as this enables incorporation of time varying variables that improve model prediction. Tested multiple approaches for addressing spatial autocorrelation in our data, including random sample, use of land parcels as sampling unit, bootstrapped estimation, and random correlated effects models. Exploited use of USGS's new LCMAP data to extend analysis time horizon, but discovered that these new data underestimate land use change in our region due to their classification methodology Developed inundation frequency metric as new measure of salt water intrusion risk by linking tidal gauge data to elevational surfaces across our study area; calculated time varying distance to tidal waters, elevation above mean higher high water, and inundation frequency metric Developed imputation methods for linking future tidal projectionto future inundation frequencies for predictions. Research Obj 2 (effect of SWI on plants): Planted year 3 of all crops and plants (e.g. salt-tolerant soy, sorghum, barley, switchgrass, and spartina patens). Collected biomass from fourth year of field trials was sorted, dried, and weighed. Analyzed CN content of plant tissue samples from Years 1 and 2 of field trials, and prepared Year 3 for analysis. Began digesting plant tissue for total element content (P, Na, Ca, and Mg). Analyzed all of 2018 and 2019 plant leaf tissue samples for P. Analyzed all 2019 crop grain samples, working on grinding of 2020 and 2021 for digestion. All of 2020 plant leaf tissue samples are digested, need P analysis on Lachat. Plant samples from all four sites (AL, BN, GR, and PH), all plots (P1-P24), and only extreme sections (0-5 and 15-20 m) from 2019 and 2021 have been sent to Penn State for Ca, K, Mg, and Na analysis on ICP (plant leaf tissue and crop grains). Collected drone imagery to correlate to yield and productivity. Data analysis of plant productivity (switchgrass, Spartina, and weeds). Data analysis of crop productivity (soybean, sorghum, barley). Research Obj 3 (effect of SWI on soil and water quality): Collected data on EC using YSI from wells (every 2-4 weeks) Continuous data on water level from pressure transducers deployed in wells at each site. Year three (2021) soils collected in November. Electrical conductivity analyzed in 2018, 2019, 2020 soil solution samples. Electrical conductivity in soils (0-10) analyzed for 2019 and 2020. Working on 2018 and 2021 EC. Analyzed 2018 soils for Mehlich-3 available P and total P. Working on 2021 soils. Analyzed geospatial predictors of soil salinity measures to develop SWI risk map. Linked salinity data to newly developed inundation metric and identified threshold relationship between them that we used for preliminary soil salinity mapping and prediction. Conducted geospatial exploration to identify potential contextual features associated with observed salinity including slope, berm presence, soil types, distance to tidal waters, etc. Research Obj 4 (SWI tradeoffs): Incorporated economic assessment of potential crop losses into analysis of SWI affected agricultural areas to estimate potential economic costs of salt water intrusion in agricultural regions of the DelMarva peninsula Extension Obj 1 (solutions to farmers): Held fourth annual stakeholder meeting as a virtual meeting, which allowed us to invite a wider audience. One on one advice to farmers, agribusinesses, and crop consultants in Delaware and Maryland on dealing with saline soils, including issues with saline irrigation water and saline wastewater. Extension Obj 2 (extension module): Updated research results, slide sets, and gathered pertinent factsheets about saline soils for the Delmarva Saltwater Intrusion website. Created two new factsheets on the role of soil salinity on the Delmarva peninsula. Shared initial findings on saltwater intrusion risk with Maryland DNR for incorporation in several state park adaptation plans Extension Obj 3 (train-the-the trainer): Crop consultants attending the Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School were updated on the role of salinity in reducing crop growth in our region.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: de la Reguera E, Tully K. Farming carbon: the link between saltwater intrusion and carbon storage in coastal agricultural fields. 2021. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 314: 107416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2021.107416
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Weissman D, Tully K. 2021. Saltwater intrusion affects nitrogen, phosphorus, and iron transformations under oxic and anoxic conditions: A microcosm experiment. Biogeochemistry. 154: 451-469. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-021-00796-6
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Miller J. Delmarva Saltwater Intrusion https://sites.udel.edu/delmarvasalt/ Provides resources for stakeholders.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Tully, K, Gedan K., Epanchin-Niell R., Miller J., de la Reguera E., Maryland Water Monitoring Conference. "Managing saltwater intrusion on Marylands Eastern Shore," Virtual (December 2, 2021).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Tully, K. Planet Forward and Food and Agriculture Organization. No Water, No Food: How Can Agriculture Respond to the Climate Crisis? Virtual Panel. (28 Jan 2022).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Epanchin-Niell, R., A. Thompson, K. Gedan, J. Miller, P. Mondal, K. Tully. Saltwater Intrusion in Coastal Agroecosystems: Soil Salinization, Sea Level Rise, and Agricultural Land Use Change. Maryland Water Monitoring Council Annual Conference. Virtual. (December 2, 2021).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Gedan, K. Formation of a Mid-Atlantic Ghost Forest. Hoch Cunningham Environmental Lecture Series, Tufts University. Virtual (3/4/21)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Gedan, K. Ghosts of the Coast: Ecological Investigations of a Mid-Atlantic Ghost Forest. Water, Wetlands, and Watersheds seminar series, University of Florida. Virtual (2/10/21)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Schulenburg, A**, Tully, K., Miller, J., Gedan, K. Delmarva Soil Summit. Management options for farmers facing saltwater intrusion along the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Georgetown, DE. (7-8 Feb 2022).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: MSchulenburg, A**, Tully, K., Miller, J., Gedan, K. Mid-Atlantic Crop Management School, "Management options for farmers facing saltwater intrusion on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay," Cooperative Extension from the University of Delaware, University of Maryland, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia University, Virtual. (November 15, 2021).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Schulenburg, A**, Tully, K., Miller, J., Gedan, K. Research Recap Nutrient Management Sessions, Management options for farmers facing saltwater intrusion on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, University of Maryland Extension, Virtual. (February 2, 2022).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Epanchin-Niell, R.S., Risk mapping of saltwater intrusion in Maryland. Presentation to Eastern Shore Land Conservancy. (May 25, 2021)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Miller, J.O. Assessing and remediating salty soils. Coastal Farming Challenges (online presentation).University of Maryland Sea Grant Workshop. January 27, 2021.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Miller, J.O. Soils and salts. University of Delaware Extension Factsheet. SWI Series #1. May, 2021
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Miller, J.O. Salt measurements and soil classifications. University of Delaware Factsheets. SWI Series #2. May, 2021.


Progress 05/01/20 to 04/30/21

Outputs
Target Audience:We held our third stakeholder meeting on 14 Feb 2020 (22 attendees). This audience consists of farmers, landowners, natural resource managers (Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Soil Conservation District), and Extension agents. Both meetings included a Public Q&A for press, local residents, etc and was well-attended (24 attendees). We held our fourth stakeholder meeting on 19 Feb 2021 virtually due to the pandemic. We had over 30 participants including NRSC, Soil Conversation Districts, farmers, and the Assistant Secretary, Resource Conservation at the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Dr. Kate Tully gave 1 invited talk at a university, 1 invited panel, and 1 invited workshop presentation during the reporting period. She also delivered a TedxTalk, which is available on YouTube. The audience for these talks consisted of research scientists, planners, decision-makers, ag professionals, general public, farmers, students, and the press. Dr. Keryn Gedan gave 1 invited talk at a workshop and 3 invited seminar presentations at an where the audience included students, scientists and engineers from a variety of disciplines. Dr. Jarrod Miller gave 3 extension outreach talks in the Mid-Atlantic region. The audiences included scientific colleagues, extension professionals, state level government employees, and regional farmers. Dr. Rebecca Epanchin-Neill gave 1 invited workshop presentation during the reporting period, where the audience included scientific colleagues and state level government employees. . Over the reporting period, our work has been featured in regional and national news outlets on a variety of platforms (e.g. TV, radio, digital, and print media). Magazines: Bay Journal. MD releases plan to fight saltwater intrusion amid rising seas by Jeremy Cox. 9 Jan 2020. This article discusses the new saltwater intrusion plan released by the Maryland Department of Planning of which Drs. Tully, Gedan, and Epanchin-Niell were co-authors. Science Line. For coastal farmers, climate change rubs salt in their wounds by Huanjia Zhang. 23 Dec 2020. This article examines the effects of saltwater intrusion across the Eastern Seaboard and the world. Newspapers The Washington Post. Coastal harm from invading saltwater happening right now by Bill Lambrecht and Gracie Todd. 23 Nov 2020. This article examines the threat of saltwater intrusion across the US Coastal Plain. The Baltimore Sun. Coastal farmers in Maryland and across Mid-Atlantic being driven off their land as salt poisons the soil by Bill Lambrecht and Gracie Todd. 23 Nov 2020. This article examines the threat of saltwater intrusion across the US Coastal Plain. YouTube Kate delivered a TedxTalk on saltwater intrusion in Great Mills in Oct 2020. The Harry R. Hughes Center produced a short video highlighting the saltwater intrusion research in Dec 2020. Changes/Problems:The COVID-19 pandemic has delayed many aspects of the project. One of the biggest challenges was that the University of Delaware, which manages the planting of the field trials, were on a permanent research lockdown until June 1. This delayed the planting of sorghum and soybeans in 2020, causing planting to occur in a drought on the Lower Eastern Shore, leading to germination and survival effects for sorghum and soybeans. We faced many difficulties getting into the field and lab over the summer and fall due to precautionary measures to avoid the spread of COVID-19. We had to reduce the number of people allowed in the field and the labs, which slowed down progress on sample collection and analysis. The cost of each sampling trip doubled and in some cases quadrupled because each individual had to drive separately and stay in separate lodging. Nevertheless, we persevered and completed all crucial sample collections throughout 2020. Sample processing in the laboratory has also been delayed by reduced densities of staff being able to work inside laboratories. We were able to complete biomass harvesting and sorting on time, but the processing of dried plant tissues, which is not as time sensitive, has had to be delayed due to reduced lab hours of staff and students. Economic analyses have been slowed by the time demands posed by COVID-19 and lack of childcare for a full year, in addition to our decision to expand the land use analysis to provide additional inputs into our subsequent SWI tradeoff analysis, coastal targeting policy analysis, and to provide insights into the specific consequences of storm surge events. For this we added new data and statistical analyses. Despite these changes, the new analyses have progressed well and already provided new insights. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have graduated one PhD student, and advised several graduate students. During the pandemic, it was impossible for them to attend conferences in-person. Thus, most professional development experiences were stymied. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Despite the pandemic, we held a virtual stakeholder meeting and delivered 1 TedxTalk, 5academic talks, and 5extension talks. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to collect and analyzedata on schedule, present our research in both academic and extension venues, and produce scientific manuscripts.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Research Obj 1 (farmer response to SWI): Expanded land use analysis spanning 6 counties along MD's eastern shore showing historic land use response to saltwater intrusion and then predicting future land use change resulting from additional, anticipated sea level rise Updated crop rotation classification for geospatial land use data and incorporated two additional years of data (spanning 6 counties) Created geospatial data layers representing current and future MHHW levels and distance to shoreline based on locally relevant observed and predicted sea level rise. Conducted preliminary analyses predicting future coastal agricultural land use change associated with SWI and sea level rise. Developed new longitudinal land use dataset for conducting a panel land use change analysis that can incorporate annual variation in tidal influence and salinity. Developed geospatial data layers of predicted annual extreme water level inundation based on lidar data and tidal gauge data. Research Obj 2 (effect of SWI on plants): Published manuscript (chapter of MS thesis) on salt and osmotic stress on germination. Planted year 3 of all crops and plants (e.g. salt-tolerant soy, sorghum, barley, switchgrass, and spartina patens). We had germination issues as our planting was delayed due to COVID (see below). Collected biomass from third year of field trials was sorted, dried, and weighed. Analyzed CN content of plant tissue samples from Years 1 and 2 of field trials. Began digesting plant tissue for total element content (P, Na, Ca, and Mg). Collected drone imagery to correlate to yield and productivity. Data analysis of plant productivity (switchgrass, spratina, and weeds). Data analysis of crop productivity (soybean, sorghum, barley). Research Obj 3 (effect of SWI on soil and water quality): Collected data on EC using YSI from wells (every 2-4 weeks) Continuous data on water level from pressure transducers deployed in wells at each site. Collected soil solution samples (every 2 weeks; XX collections total in 2020). Year three (2020) soils collected. Nitrogen (NH4 and NO3) analyzed in 2018, 2019, 2020 soil solution samples Phosphate analyzed in 2018, 2019, 2020 soil solution samples. Electrical conductivity analyzed in 2018, 2019, 2020 soil solution samples. Analyzed data on nitrogen in porewater, soils, and plants initiating comprehensive manuscript on nitrogen pools across sites. Analyzed geospatial predictors of soil salinity measures to develop SWI risk map. Research Obj 4 (SWI tradeoffs): Began economic analysis of crop losses from SWI.. Extension Obj 1 (solutions to farmers): Held third annual stakeholder meeting as a virtual meeting, which allowed us to invite a wider audience. Extension popular press article posted to the University of Delaware Weekly Crop Update and the Delaware Agronomy Blog. One on one advice to farmers in Delaware and Maryland on dealing with saline soils, including issues with saline irrigation water and saline wastewater. Extension Obj 2 (extension module): Updated research results, slide sets, and gathered pertinent factsheets about saline soils for the Delmarva Saltwater Intrusion website. Extension Obj 3 (train-the-the trainer): Trained Mid-Atlantic state level employees in the effects of salt water on crops and soils in the region for the Delaware Alliance of Adaptation Practitioners.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Gedan K, Epanchin-Niell R., and M. Qi***. 2020. Rapid land cover change in a submerging coastal county. Wetlands 40:17171728. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-020-01328-y
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: de la Reguera E**, Veatch J*, Gedan K, and Tully KL. 2020. The effects of saltwater intrusion on germination success of standard and alternative crops. Environmental and Experimental Botany 180:104254 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2020.104254
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Weissman D**, Tully K, McClure K, Miller C. 2020 Saltwater intrusion: A growing threat to coastal agriculture. Northeast Climate Hub FactSheet.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Weissman D** and Tully K. 2020. Saltwater intrusion alters nutrient cycling in coastal ecosystems. Ecosphere. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3041
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Miller J. Delmarva Saltwater Intrusion https://sites.udel.edu/delmarvasalt/ Provides resources for stakeholders.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Tully, K., Policy Council Climate Retreat, "Sustainability of agricultural production systems in a changing climate," Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay, Cambridge, MD, United States. (February 19, 2020).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Tully, K., Coastal Farming Challenges Workshop, "Causes and effects of saltwater intrusion on Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore," Maryland Sea Grant with NSF funding, Virtual. (December 17, 2020).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Tully, K., Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics (BEES) Seminar Series,University of Maryland. "Agroecosystems in transition: the effect of saltwater intrusion on coastal farmlands," Virtual. (October 2020).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Gedan K. WoW (Whats Our Work?) George Washington University. Tracking changes due to sea level rise in coastal landscapes. Virtual. Dec 2020.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Miller, Jarrod. 2020. Delmarva Saltwater Intrusion. Delaware Alliance of Adaptation Practitioners. Online quarterly meeting. Presentation to an audience of 12 individuals from state agencies and universities. November 19, 2020.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Gedan K. Chesapeake Bay Sentinel Sites Cooperative Land Use Tradeoffs Workshop. Friend or foe? Phragmites and other wetland plants in the coastal slosh zone. Virtual. Jan 2021.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Gedan, K. Ghosts of the Coast: Ecological Investigations of a Mid-Atlantic Ghost Forest. Water, Wetlands, and Watersheds seminar series, University of Florida. Virtual. Feb 2021.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Gedan, K. Formation of a Mid-Atlantic Ghost Forest. Hoch Cunningham Environmental Lecture Series, Tufts University. Virtual. Mar 2021.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Miller J. Chesapeake Bay Sentinel Sites Cooperative Land Use Tradeoffs Workshop. Assessing and Remediating for Salty Soils. Virtual. Jan 2021.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Weissman D. 2020. Saltwater intrusion alters nitrogen and phosphorus transformations in coastal agroecosystems. Thesis director: Tully K. PhD Dissertation presented to the Graduate School at the University of Maryland.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Miller, 2020. Considering fall salt remediation. Delaware Agronomy Blog & UD Weekly Crop Update. Articles posted to the weekly crop update listserv reaches 1400 readers. September 21, 2020.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2020 Citation: Miller, Jarrod. 2020. Delaware Agronomic Research Projects. Corteva Cooperative Workshop. University of Delaware Carvel Research and Education Center. Georgetown, DE. Presentation to an audience of 15 industry and university researchers. January 7, 2020.


Progress 05/01/19 to 04/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:We held our second stakeholder meeting on 10 Apr 2019 (27 participants). Our third meeting was held on 14 Feb 2020 (22 attendees). This audience consists of farmers, landowners, natural resource managers (Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Soil Conservation District), and Extension agents. Both meetings included a Public Q&A for press, local residents, etc and was well-attended (24 attendees). Dr. Kate Tully gave 1 presentation at an annual scientific meeting, 1 invited talk at a university, 1 invited symposium, and 1 keynote on research conducted during the reporting period. Her students gave 4 talks and presented 3 posters on this research over the reporting period. The audience for these talks consisted of research scientists, planners, decision-makers, ag professionals, general public, farmers, students, and the press. Dr. Keryn Gedan gave 1 invited seminar to an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology department and 1 presentation to an academic alumni group. She also gave a guest lecture to an online distributed course that included undergraduate and graduate student groups at 10 universities around the United States. Dr. Jarrod Miller gave 4 extension outreach talks in the Mid-Atlantic region. The audiences included scientific colleagues, extension professionals, state level government employees, and the Pocomoke Soil and Water Conservation society. Dr. Epanchin-Niell gave 1 presentation at an academic meeting and 1 presentation to Resources for the Future's board of directors. Audiences included economists, academics, and NGO and business leaders. Over the reporting period, our work has been featured in regional and national news outlets on a variety of platforms (e.g. TV, radio, digital, and print media). Of note is that our work was highlighted in the New York Times Magazine in October 2019. TV CBS Baltimore (WJZ-TV). Saltwater intrusion harming farmers in Maryland's Eastern Shore. 11 Dec 2019. CBS news piece on saltwater intrusion in the mid-Atlantic region. I was interviewed as a scientific expert. Radio Kojo Nnamdi Show. How does climate change affect agriculture in our region? 16 Sept 2019. Episode focused on climate change and its impact on agriculture in the Mid-Atlantic region. I was one of 4 panelists discussing the topic on a live radio show. Magazines The New York Times Magazine. As sea levels rise, so do ghost forests by Moises Velasquez-Manoff. 8 Oct 2019. A mixed media piece that focused on the history of the Chesapeake Bay, loss of forests, marshes, and farms. Drs. Gedan and Tully are both quoted in this piece, which discusses the effects of sea level rise and saltwater intrusion into forests and farms. Momentum Magazine. Rising to the challenge: The changing climate of coastal farming. Summer 2019. University of Maryland publication that focused on our research on saltwater intrusion and sea-level rise on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland. Also interviewed one of our farmer partners. GW Arts and Sciences Magazine. Mission: Rescue the Bay. 2019/2020. George Washington University publication that described our research on saltwater intrusion and sea level rise effects on the farms and forests of the Chesapeake Bay's Eastern Shore. Also featured PhD student Justus Jobe. Digital media Bay Journal. MD releases plan to fight saltwater intrusion amid rising seas by Jeremy Cox. 9 Jan 2020. This article discusses the new saltwater intrusion plan released by the Maryland Department of Planning of which Drs. Tully, Gedan, and Epanchin-Niell were co-authors. Bay Journal. Saltwater intrusion laying waste to Delmarva farms as sea level rises by Jeremy Cox. 26 Mar 2019. This article covered the impact of saltwater intrusion on Chesapeake Bay farmers and included an interview with one of our farmer partners. Thomson Reuters Foundation. Salty soil sends U.S. farmers, officials scrambling (by Carey L. Biron, Thomson Reuters Foundation). 25 Sept 2019. This article discusses salt water intrusion on the eastern shore, and includes interviews with Tully, Epanchin-Niell, and one of our partner farmers. Changes/Problems:We are not collecting soils several times a year, but rather following the harvest (~Nov) once a year. We generate 1,440 samples per sampling campaign, after looking at the data from year 1, we have cut this down to one soil sampling per year as there were no major differences in nutrient concentrations in soils among the year 1 sampling events. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One PhD student is nearly completed with her dissertation (expected graduation May 2020) One MS student succesfully completed her thesis (graduated Dec 2019) Multiple technicians have been trained on SOPs We trained 6 undergraduates on this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Please see target audience information (repeated here). We held our second stakeholder meeting on 10 Apr 2019 (27 participants). Our third meeting was held on 14 Feb 2020 (22 attendees). This audience consists of farmers, landowners, natural resource managers (Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Soil Conservation District), and Extension agents. Both meetings included a Public Q&A for press, local residents, etc and was well-attended (24 attendees). Dr. Kate Tully gave 1 presentation at an annual scientific meeting, 1 invited talk at a university, 1 invited symposium, and 1 keynote on research conducted during the reporting period. Her students gave 4 talks and presented 3 posters on this research over the reporting period. The audience for these talks consisted of research scientists, planners, decision-makers, ag professionals, general public, farmers, students, and the press. Dr. Keryn Gedan gave 1 invited seminar to an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology department and 1 presentation to an academic alumni group. She also gave a guest lecture to an online distributed course that included undergraduate and graduate student groups at 10 universities around the United States. Dr. Jarrod Miller gave 4 extension outreach talks in the Mid-Atlantic region. The audiences included scientific colleagues, extension professionals, state level government employees, and the Pocomoke Soil and Water Conservation society. Dr. Epanchin-Niell gave 1 presentation at an academic meeting and 1 presentation to Resources for the Future's board of directors. Audiences included economists, academics, and NGO and business leaders. Over the reporting period, our work has been featured in regional and national news outlets on a variety of platforms (e.g. TV, radio, digital, and print media). Of note is that our work was highlighted in the New York Times Magazine in October 2019. We published four scientific articles this year and one report with the Maryland Department of Planning, which is leading to new legislation for working lands affected by saltwater intrusion. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to collect data in each research area, train students, and report data to our stakeholders and target audience. In particular, we willwork with policy-makers to design science-based conservation programs for farmers' whose lands are affected by saltwater intrusion.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Research Obj 1 (farmer response to SWI): Completed land use analysis spanning 6 counties along MD's eastern shore showing historic land use response to saltwater intrusion Processed geospatial data on elevation, salinity, soil type, coastal flood frequency, sea level, and economic indicators as saltwater intrusion risk metrics and economic controls Categorized 3 year crop rotations based on USDA 30 meter pixel geospatial crop data, incorporating data error measures. Completed retrospective land use change analysis that examines land transitions out of agriculture due to declining productivity from saltwater intrusion, applying an economic model. Began drafting manuscript Completed remote sensing analysis of landcover change in Somerset County in response to sea level rise. Submitted manuscript. Research Obj 2 (effect of SWI on plants): Analyzed data on germination trials for ionic and osmotic stress. One masters student graduated in Dec 2019 with one chapter focusing on the effect of SWI on plant germination. Planted a new site to test six salt-tolerant restoration species - plants all died (the sites are highly saline). We will replant in spring 2020. Collected biomass from second year of field trials was sorted, dried, and weighed. Analyzed CN content of plant tissue samples from Years 1 and 2 of field trials. Collected drone imagery to correlate to yield and productivity. Research Obj 3 (effect of SWI on soil and water quality): Planted year 2 of all crops and plants (e.g. salt-tolerant soy, sorghum, barley, switchgrass, and spartina patens). Collected data from wells, pressure transducers,andlysimeters. Collected soils and soil solution for year two. Analyzed nitrogen in soils for year one. Analyzed nitrogen and phosphorus in soil solution for year one. Analyzed stability of soil carbon along a saltwater intrusion transect in five farms. One masters student graduated with a thesis chapter focusing on the effects of SWI on soil carbon. Research Obj 4 (SWI tradeoffs): Refined conceptual model of possible private adaptation measures to salt water intrusion and the alignment of private adaptation incentives with provision of societal benefits, affecting the role of public policy in shaping adaptation pathways. Extension Obj 1 (solutions to farmers): Held second annual stakeholder meeting before the first field season to ensure that our plan for alternative crops was aligned with farmer goals. Extension popular press article posted to the University of Delaware Weekly Crop Update. One on one advice to farmers in Delaware on dealing with saline soils, including issues with saline irrigation water and saline wastewater. Extension Obj 2 (extension module): Developed further slide sets on salts, soils, and crop growth to include drone imagery and updated research results. Extension Obj 3 (train-the-the trainer): Trained Mid-Atlantic state level employees in the effects of salt water on crops and soils in the region. Trained north-east extension professionals in the extent of SWI in the Mid-Atlantic and how extension plays a role in outreach.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Weissman D and Tully K. 2020. Saltwater intrusion alters nutrient cycling in coastal ecosystems. Ecosphere. 11(2): e03041
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Tully K, Gedan K, Epanchin-Niell R, Strong A, Bernhardt E, BenDor T, Mitchell M, Kominoski J, Jordan T, Neubauer S, Weston N. 2019. The invisible flood: the chemistry, ecology, and consequences of saltwater intrusion. Bioscience. 69:368-378.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Gedan K and Fernandez-Pascual E. 2019. Salt marsh migration into salinized agricultural fields: A novel assembly of plant communities. Journal of Vegetation Science. 30:1007-1016.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Kirwan, M.L. and K.B. Gedan. 2019. Sea-level driven land conversion and the formation of ghost forests. Nature Climate Change. 9:450-457.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Maryland Department of Planning (MDP). 2019. State of Maryland Plan to Adapt to Saltwater Intrusion and Salinization. Dubow, J and D.H. Cornwell (primary authors). D. Andreasen, A. Staley, K. Tully, K. Gedan, and R. Epanchin-Niell (contributing authors). direct link: https://planning.maryland.gov/Documents/OurWork/envr-planning/2019-1212-Marylands-plan-to-adapt-to-saltwater-intrusion-and-salinization.pdf
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Weissman D and Nguyen E. 2019 Our Changing Chesapeake: Adapting agricultural lands to sea level rise and saltwater intrusion. ESRI Story Maps This version has been updated with new spatial data on salinity.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Epanchin-Niell R. Coastal land use change: agricultural adaptation to saltwater intrusion and sea level rise. Association of Environmental and Resource Economists Summer Conference. Tahoe, CA. 31 May 2019
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Epanchin-Niell R. Building coastal resilience: saltwater intrusion and agroecosystem adaptation. Resources for the Future, presentation to the board. Washington, DC. 22 May 2019
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Gedan K. To tree or not to tree: Ghost forests and marsh migration. University of Kansas. Lawrence, KS. 10 Dec 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: De la Reguera E**, Gedan K, Palmer M, Tully K. The carbon storage potential of coastal farmlands experiencing saltwater intrusion. American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA. 9 Dec 2019
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: De la Reguera E**, Gedan K, Palmer M, Tully K. Abandon, restore, adapt: Farming in the face of sea level rise and saltwater intrusion. American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting. San Antonio, TX. 11 Nov 2019
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2020 Citation: K. B. Gedan, Epanchin-Niell R., and M. Qi***. In review. Rapid land cover change in a submerging coastal county. Wetlands.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Gedan K. Sea level rise, saltwater intrusion, and tidal marsh migration. George Washington University. Washington, DC. 9 May 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Gedan K. Climate change-driven shifts in foundation species: Marsh migration as a case study. Foundation Species online course hosted by University of Houston. 22 Nov 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Tully K. The salty farmer: saltwater intrusion changes chemistry on coastal farmlands. Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Edgewater, MD. 9 Oct 2019
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Tully K, Weissman D**, Miller J, Jordan T. Effects of saltwater intrusion on coastal farmland in the Chesapeake Bay. University of Maryland AGNR Cornerstone Event: Ensuring a Clean and Healthy Chesapeake Bay. College Park, MD. 29 Oct 2019
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: De la Reguera E**, Gedan K, Palmer M, Tully K. The effect of saltwater intrusion on the spatial inaccessibility of carbon in coastal agricultural fields. American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA. 10 Dec 2019
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: De la Reguera E**, Palmer M, Tully K. Farming carbon: the link between saltwater intrusion and carbon storage in coastal agricultural fields. American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting. San Antonio, TX. 12 Nov 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: K. Gedan. Coastal Plant Response to Climate Change. USDA-Rutgers Coastal Climate Change and Forest Impacts Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Synthesis and Coordination Meeting. Beltsville, MD. 23 Jan 2020.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Tully K, Weissman D**, Miller J, Fisher T. Sea level rise unlocks agricultural legacies: the effect of saltwater intrusion in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. Louisville, KY. 15 Aug 2019 Invited Symposium
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Tully K, Agroecosystems in transition: The effect of saltwater intrusion on coastal farmlands. F3 Tech Saltwater Intrusion Awareness Symposium, Annapolis, MD. 22 Nov 2019 Keynote
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2020 Citation: De la Reguera E. 2019. The effect of salinity on species survival and carbon storage on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland due to saltwater intrusion. Thesis director: Tully K. Masters Thesis presented to the Graduate School at the University of Maryland.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Poster: Nguyen E*, Tully K, Mondal P. Mapping saltwater intrusion in Somerset county, MD. University of Maryland AGNR Cornerstone Event: Ensuring a Clean and Healthy Chesapeake Bay. College Park, MD. 29 Oct 2019
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Poster: Weissman D**, Tully K. Our changing Chesapeake: saltwater intrusion alters nutrient cycling across coastal ecosystems. University of Maryland AGNR Cornerstone Event: Ensuring a Clean and Healthy Chesapeake Bay. College Park, MD. 29 Oct 2019
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2019 Citation: Poster: De la Reguera E**, Gedan K, Palmer M, Tully K. Farming carbon: the link between saltwater intrusion and carbon storage in coastal agricultural fields. University of Maryland AGNR Cornerstone Event: Ensuring a Clean and Healthy Chesapeake Bay. College Park, MD. 29 Oct 2019


Progress 05/01/18 to 04/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience:We held our first stakeholder meeting in Feb 2018 (20 participants). Our second was held on 10 Apr 2019 (27 attendees). This audience consists of farmers, landowners, natural resource managers (Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Soil Conservation District), and Extension agents. Dr. Kate Tully gave four talks at annual scientific meetings and seven invited talks at universities and organizations (1 Jan 2018- 30 Apr 2019). The audience for these talks consisted of research scientists, general public, farmers, students, and the press. Dr. Keryn Gedan gave two talks. One was a plenary talk at the Marsh Resilience Summit (6 Feb 2019), which had an audience of about 200 scientists, policymakers, social scientists, land managers, and industry representatives. The second was a presentation to the National Dean's Council for George Washington University (12 April 2019), which had an audience of 25 deans, advisors, and donors to George Washington University. Dr. Jarrod Miller gave one extension talk on the Delmarva Peninsula and one extension webinar (1 Jan 2018- 30 Apr 2019). The audience of these talks included Master Gardeners, agricultural service providers, research scientists, extension personnel, farmers, general public, students, and the press. Dr. Epanchin-Nieill gave 1 talk to the board of directors at Resources for the Future, consisting of representatives from industry, conservation NGOs, federal agencies, academia, and the public. Jessica Post (Epanchin-Niell graduate student summer intern) gave one scientific talk at the Southern Economics Association meeting. The audience included representatives from academia (especially economists), federal agencies, NGOs, and the press. Our research received substantial press coverage over the reporting period, reaching a broad audience. TV Maryland Farm and Harvest. Episode 509, 9 Jan 2018. Radio National Public Radio. Flooding And Rising Seas Threaten America's Oldest Farmland, 2 Jun 2018. WNYC's The Takeaway. Sea-Level Rise Endangers Centuries-Old Farms in Maryland, 5 April 2018. Digital media The Atlantic, The Slow-Motion Catastrophe Threatening 350-Year-Old Farms by Virginia Gewin. 2 Mar 2018. Hakai magazine. Sea Level Rise Is Unlocking Decades-Old Pollution by Roberta Kwok. 10 Jan 2018. Voice of America: Rising seas forcing changes on Maryland's historic Eastern Shore farms by Steve Baragona. 29 Oct 2018. Includes a 3 minute video of research farm and farmer partner. Civil Eats: Turning Salt-Damaged Fields into Marshes Could Save Maryland Farmland--and The Chesapeake Bay by Virginia Gewin. 20 Feb 2019. Bay Journal: Saltwater intrusion laying waste to Delmarva farms as sea level rises by Jeremy Cox. 26 Mar 2019. Changes/Problems:There are no major changes to the research program. However, due to extensive flooding in the spring of 2018, we had to abandon one of the research fields. We have since relocated the equipment to a nearby field on the same property. We have also added a non-intruded field at a nearby University of Maryland research farm (Poplar Hill) to serve as a non-salt control for our crop treatments. Poor establishment of switchgrass and Spartina patens will be addressed by replanting in 2019 where necessary. There is a slight change to the FTEs whereby we paid an undergraduate for help collecting water samplesover the summer of 2018. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project is supporting research for 1 masters student, and 3 PhD students. Students have attended the Society of Wetland Scientists, Ecological Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, Southern Economics Association, and the American Geophysical Union annual meetings to attend talks and present research. All UMD and GWU graduate students attended and presented posters the Marsh Resilience Summit, a small conference/workshop organized by the Chesapeake Bay Sentinel Site Cooperative, consisting of scientists and managers in coastal Maryland and Virginia. A graduate student's project on deer herbivory within agricultural and marsh landscapes, an outgrowth of the present research, has received small research grant support from the Washington Biologists Field Club. This year, one of the PhD students supported by this project presented research at the Stroud Water Research Center, a water-quality focused research center in Pennsylvania. This student has also presented research twice at the Mid-Atlantic Crop School, a yearly meeting hosted by University of Maryland and University of Delaware for farmers and land managers. These talks were focused specifically on nutrient cycling in coastal farmland. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have presented preliminary research results to farmers, scientists, natural resource managers, the press, and general public through a wide range of venues. We have published two peer-review articles, and given 15 presentations total, including 9 at scientific meetings and 2 extension talks. Our research has been featured in one television episode, two radio shows, and five articles in the popular press. Annual stakeholder meetings ensure that we are in continual contact with farmers directly impacted by SWI and seeking solutions to the problems they face. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This is a five-year grant and we have made substantial progress in the first year. Some of our research and extension objectives will be accomplished later in the project once more data have been collected (e.g. Res Obj 4 and Ext Obj 3). We will continue to collect data from our trials, presenting our research, and publishing articles. ?

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Research Obj 1 (farmer response to SWI): Processed geospatial data on elevation, salinity, soil type, coastal flood frequency, and sea level to develop saltwater intrusion risk metrics Developed land use classification and crop rotation categorization based on USDA 30 meter pixel geospatial crop data to examine land use change. Completed preliminary retrospective land use change analysis that examines land transitions out of agriculture due to declining productivity resulting from saltwater intrusion. Gathered data on programs affecting the profitability of retaining land in agriculture. Research Obj 2 (effect of SWI on plants): Completed germination trials on nine species for osmotic stress Completed germination trials on nine species for sodium stress Established research trials on three salt-affected farms and one control site at a University of Maryland research farm Collected biomass from first year of field trials was sorted, dried, and weighed Plant tissue samples are being prepared for CN elemental analysis Research Obj 3 (effect of SWI on soil and water quality): Established research trials on three farms and one control site at a University of Maryland research farm. Planted all crops and plants (e.g. salt-tolerant soy, sorghum, barley, switchgrass, and spartina patens). Installed wells, pressure transducers, lysimeters, fencing at all sites. Collected soils and soil solution for one year. Analyzed nitrogen in soils. Analyzed phosphorus in soils and soil solution. Analyzed stability of soil carbon along a saltwater intrusion transect in five farms. Research Obj 4 (SWI tradeoffs): Developed a conceptual model of possible private adaptation measures to salt water intrusion and examined how private adaptation incentives may or may not align with provision of societal benefits, affecting the role of public policy in shaping adaptation pathways. Extension Obj 1 (solutions to farmers): Held first annual stakeholder meeting before the first field season to ensure that our plan for alternative crops was aligned with farmer goals. Extension popular press article posted to the University of Delaware Weekly Crop Update and Delaware Agronomy Blog on correcting saline soils. Extension Obj 2 (extension module): Created first slide set covering several aspects of salts in agriculture as one portion of the module. Extension Obj 3 (train-the-the trainer): Trained agricultural service providers and extension educators who attended the webinar about fertilizers salts and saline soils Trained Master Gardeners on how to manage salt-intruded fields

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Tully K, Weissman D, Wyner WJ, Miller J, Jordan T. 2019. Soils in transition: Saltwater intrusion alters soil chemistry in agricultural fields. Biogeochemistry. 142:339-356.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Tully K, Gedan K, Epanchin-Niell R, Strong A, Bernhardt E, BenDor T, Mitchell M, Kominoski J, Jordan T, Neubauer S, Weston N. 2019. The invisible flood: the chemistry, ecology, and consequences of saltwater intrusion. Bioscience.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Gedan K. and E. Fern�ndez Pascual. In press. Salt marsh migration into salinized agricultural fields: a novel assembly of plant communities. Journal of Vegetation Science.
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Weissman D. 2018 Our Changing Chesapeake: Adapting agricultural lands to sea level rise and saltwater intrusion. ESRI Story Maps
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Tully K. Ecosystems in transition: Sea-level rise unlocks agricultural legacies. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. 3 Apr 2018.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Tully K. Ecosystems in transition: sea-level rise unlocks agricultural legacies. Botanical Society of Washington, Washington, DC. 1 May 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Tully K and Weissman D. The invisible flood: The extent and impact of sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion on coastal farmlands. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. 8 Aug 2018.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Tully K. Ecosystems in transition: Sea-level rise unlocks agricultural legacies. University of Delaware, Newark, DE. 5 Oct 2018.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Tully K. Ecosystems in transition: Sea-level rise unlocks agricultural legacies. University of Maryland, STEAM Salon, College Park, MD. 11 Oct 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Tully K, Weissman D, ONeal K, Epanchin-Niell R. Extent and impact of sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion on coastal farms in the Chesapeake. American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD. 7 Nov 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Tully K, Weissman D, Jordan T, and Miller J. Agroecosystems in Transition: Sea Level rise and Saltwater Intrusion Alter Biogeochemical Cycling in Coastal Farmlands American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting, Washington, DC. 12 Dec 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Tully K, Weissman D. Saltwater intrusion changes soil chemistry on coastal farmlands with impacts for water quality. Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA. 8 Jan 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Tully K, Wessman D, Miller J, Jordan T. Agroecosystems in transition: sea level rise and saltwater intrusion alter biogeochemical cycling in coastal farmlands. Marsh Resilience Summit, Williamsburg, VA. 6 Feb 2019.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Tully K. The salty farmer: saltwater intrusion changes chemistry on coastal farmlands. Horn Point Laboratory University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD. 3 Apr 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: De la Reguera E, Palmer M, Tully K. Farming carbon: the link between saltwater intrusion and carbon storage in coastal agricultural fields. American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC. 13 Dec 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Weissman D, Tully K. Saltwater intrusion and nutrient cycling on coastal farmland. Society of Wetland Scientists Meeting. Denver, CO. 31 May 2018.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Kirwan, M.L. and K.B. Gedan. In press. Sea-level driven land conversion and the formation of ghost forests. Nature Climate Change.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Epanchin-Niell R, Gedan K, Miller J, Tully K. 2018. Saltwater intrusion and coastal climate adaptation: Building community resilience. Resources. Resources for the Future. Washington, D.C. Spring 2018. Issue No. 197. https://www.resourcesmag.org/archives/saltwater-intrusion-and-coastal-climate-adaptation-building-community-resilience/
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Miller, J.O. 2018. Salt Water Intrusion on Agroecosystems. Research Page. http://jarrodmiller.weebly.com/research.html
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Gedan K. Pre-salted beans: Sea level rise, marsh migration, and agriculture. Marsh Resilience Summit. Williamsburg, VA. 6 Feb 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Post J, Epanchin-Niell R, Thompson A. Coastal land use change: rural social-ecological response to saltwater intrusion and sea level rise. Southern Economics Association Annual Meeting, Washington DC. 19 Nov 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Epanchin-Niell R. Building coastal resilience: Saltwater intrusion and agroecosystem adaptation. Presentation to the Board of Resources for the Future. 22 May 2018.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Miller, J.O. 2018. Dealing with salt affected soils. Delaware Agronomy Blog. May 24, 2018. https://sites.udel.edu/agronomy/2018/05/24/dealing-with-salt-affected-soils/