Large Plants Research Articles

Divergence of 10 satellite repeats in Artemisia (Asteraceae: Anthemideae) based on sequential fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis: evidence for species identification and evolution.

Artemisia is a large genus encompassing about 400 diverse species, many of which have considerable medicinal and ecological value. However, complex morphological information and variation in ploidy level and nuclear DNA content have presented challenges for evolution studies of this genus. Consequently, taxonomic inconsistencies within the genus persist, hindering the utilization of such large plant resources. Researchers have utilized satellite DNAs to aid in chromosome identification, species classification, and evolutionary studies due to their significant sequence and copy number variation between species and close relatives. In the present study, the RepeatExplorer2 pipeline was utilized to identify 10 satellite DNAs from three species (Artemisia annua, Artemisia vulgaris, Artemisia viridisquama), and fluorescence in situ hybridization confirmed their distribution on chromosomes in 24 species, including 19 Artemisia species with 5 outgroup species from Ajania and Chrysanthemum. Signals of satellite DNAs exhibited substantial differences between species. We obtained one genus-specific satellite from the sequences. Additionally, molecular cytogenetic maps were constructed for Artemisia vulgaris, Artemisia leucophylla, and Artemisia viridisquama. One species (Artemisia verbenacea) showed a FISH distribution pattern suggestive of an allotriploid origin. Heteromorphic FISH signals between homologous chromosomes in Artemisia plants were observed at a high level. Additionally, the relative relationships between species were discussed by comparing ideograms. The results of the present study provide new insights into the accurate identification and taxonomy of the Artemisia genus using molecular cytological methods.

Iterative real-time optimization of a membrane pilot plant

In this paper, we describe the implementation and experimental validation of iterative real-time optimization (RTO) at a continuously operated membrane separation pilot plant. The objective is to achieve an economically optimal operation using the transmembrane pressure and the feed flow rate as adjustable operational parameters (set-points for the lower-level plant controllers). In spite of the popularity of RTO based on rigorous nonlinear plant models in the research literature, its practical use so far remains limited to large scale plants in the petrochemical industries. The main issue behind the limited application of RTO schemes is the necessary effort to derive and maintain sufficiently accurate models of the plants. In case of a significant plant-model mismatch, the results are not reliable, the optimal performance is not reached and even systematic violations of constraints may occur. The applicability of RTO could be extended significantly if simple process models sufficed for its successful application. Then an adaptation of the model or of the optimization problem to the real behavior of the plant is necessary to achieve an optimal operation. For this example, we tackle this issue by applying an iterative scheme called modifier-adaptation with quadratic approximation in combination with model adaptation to ensure the convergence of the plant to the true process optimum despite the fact that the model has deficiencies. The experimental results show that, in spite of a considerable plant-model mismatch, the presented RTO scheme is capable of boosting the process economics.

Removal efficiency of antibiotic residues, antibiotic resistant bacteria, and genes across parallel secondary settling tank and membrane bioreactor treatment trains in a water reclamation plant

Antimicrobial resistance is recognized as a potent threat to human health. Wastewater treatment facilities are viewed as hotspots for the spread of antimicrobial resistance. This study provides comprehensive data on the occurrences of 3 different antibiotic resistant opportunistic pathogens (with resistance to up to 5 antibiotics), 13 antibiotic resistant genes and intI1, and 22 different antimicrobial residues in a large water reclamation plant (176 million gallons per day) that runs a conventional Modified Ludzack-Ettinger (MLE) reactor followed by a secondary settling tank (SST) and membrane bioreactor (MBR) in parallel.All the antibiotic resistant bacteria and most of the antibiotic resistance genes were present in the raw influent, ranging from 2.5 × 102–3.7 × 106 CFU/mL and 1.2× 10−1–6.5 × 1010 GCN/mL, respectively. MBR outperformed the SST system in terms of ARB removal as the ARB targets were largely undetected in MBR effluent, with log removals ranging from 2.7 to 6.8, while SST only had log removals ranging from 0.27 to 4.6. Most of the ARG concentrations were found to have significantly higher in SST effluent than MBR permeate, and MBR had significantly higher removal efficiency for most targets (p < 0.05) except for sul1, sul2, blaOXA48, intI1 and 16S rRNA genes (p > 0.05). As for the antibiotic residues (AR), there was no significant removal from the start to the end of the treatment process, although MBR had higher removal efficiencies for azithromycin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, erythromycin-H2O, lincomycin, sulfamethoxazole and triclosan, compared to the SST system. In conclusion, MBR outperformed SST in terms of ARB and ARGs removal. However low removal efficiencies of most AR targets were apparent.

Using Surrogate Parameters to Enhance Monitoring of Community Wastewater Management System Performance for Sustainable Operations.

Community wastewater management systems (CWMS) are small-scale wastewater treatment systems typically in regional and rural areas with less sophisticated treatment processes and often managed by local governments or communities. Research and industrial applications have demonstrated that online UV-Vis sensors have great potential for improving wastewater monitoring and treatment processes. Existing studies on the development of surrogate parameters with models from spectral data for wastewater were largely limited to lab-based. In contrast, industrial applications of these sensors have primarily targeted large wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), leaving a gap in research for small-scale WWTPs. This paper demonstrates the suitability of using a field-based online UV-Vis sensor combined with advanced data analytics for CWMSs as an early warning for process upset to support sustainable operations. An industry case study is provided to demonstrate the development of surrogate monitoring parameters for total suspended solids (TSSs) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) using the UV-Vis spectral data from an online UV-Vis sensor. Absorbances at a wavelength of 625 nm (UV625) and absorbances at a wavelength of 265 nm (UV265) were identified as surrogate parameters to measure TSSs and COD, respectively. This study contributes to the improvement of WWTP performance with a continuous monitoring system by developing a process monitoring framework and optimization strategy.

Enhancing compound confidence in suspect and non-target screening through machine learning-based retention time prediction

The retention time (RT) of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) is crucial for database matching in non-targeted screening (NTS) analysis. In this study, we developed a machine learning (ML) model to predict RTs of CECs in NTS analysis. Using 1051 CEC standards, we evaluated Random Forest (RF), XGBoost, Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) with molecular fingerprints and chemical descriptors to establish an optimal model. The SVR model utilizing chemical descriptors resulted in good predictive capacity with R2ext = 0.850 and r2 = 0.925. The model was further validated through laboratory NTS compound characterization. When applied to examine CEC occurrence in a large wastewater treatment plant, we identified 40 level S1 CECs (confirmed structure by reference standard) and 234 level S2 compounds (probable structure by library spectrum match). The model predicted RTs for level S2 compounds, leading to the classification of 153 level S2 compounds with high confidence (ΔRT <2 min). The model served as a robust filtering mechanism within the analytical framework. This study emphasizes the importance of predicted RTs in NTS analysis and highlights the potential of prediction models. Our research introduces a workflow that enhances NTS analysis by utilizing RT prediction models to determine compound confidence levels.

The mechanism behind tenuazonic acid-mediated inhibition of plant plasma membrane H+-ATPase and plant growth

The Increasing prevalence of herbicide-resistant weeds has led to a search for new herbicides that target plant growth processes differing from those targeted by current herbicides. In recent years, some studies have explored the use of natural compounds from microorganisms as potential new herbicides. We previously demonstrated that tenuazonic acid (TeA) from the phytopathogenic fungus Stemphylium loti inhibits the plant plasma membrane (PM) H+-ATPase, representing a new target for herbicides. In this study, we further investigated the mechanism by which TeA inhibits PM H+-ATPase and the effect of the toxin on plant growth using Arabidopsis thaliana. We also studied the biochemical effects of TeA on the PM H+-ATPases from spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and A. thaliana (AHA2) by examining PM H+-ATPase activity under different conditions and in different mutants. Treatment with 200 μM TeA induced cell necrosis in larger plants, and treatment with 10 μM TeA almost completely inhibited cell elongation and root growth in seedlings. We show that the isoleucine backbone of TeA is essential for inhibiting the ATPase activity of the PM H+-ATPase. Additionally, this inhibition depends on the C-terminal domain of AHA2, and TeA binding to PM H+-ATPase requires the Regulatory Region I of the C-terminal domain in AHA2. TeA likely has a higher binding affinity towards PM H+-ATPase than the phytotoxin fusicoccin. Finally, our findings show that TeA retains the H+-ATPase in an inhibited state, suggesting that it could act as a lead compound for creating new herbicides targeting the PM H+-ATPase.

Lean Photovoltaik

Abstract The expansion of renewable energies poses a significant challenge worldwide. Numerous national and international agreements and laws promote and demand a much stronger expansion than before. A significant contribution is expected from the increased use of photovoltaics (PV). Large scale solar power plants cover vast areas and consist of hundreds of thousands of modules. With increasing quantities, the potential to make installation more efficient using factory operation methods also increases. However, established approaches such as Lean Production Systems (LPS) cannot be transferred from the factory to the PV construction site without adaptations, due to the different preconditions. In a previous article, the challenges in the installation of PV power plants and the potential for the implementation of LPS have been analysed based on a study of the current state of production efficiency. For this purpose, solar projects by Sunstall Inc., USA, were accompanied. In this article, the implementation and the results of an experimental application of LPS on these solar projects are presented.

Uji Efektivitas Ekstrak Daun Cengkih dan Jintan untuk Menurunkan Intensitas Serangan Penyakit Antraknosa pada Tanaman Cabai Besar

Anthracnose disease is one of the diseases in chili plants that can reduce yields by up to 80%. This study aims to determine the effectiveness and optimal concentration of natural fungicides from cloves and cumin in reducing the incidence and intensity of anthracnose disease (Colletotrichum sp.) attack directly on large chili plants in the field. The research was conducted in Sumberejo Village, Ngablak District, Magelang Regency. The study used a completely randomized design (CRD) with eight treatments and four replications. The extract treatments used clove leaves and cumin leaves with concentrations of 1%, 2%, and 3%, and no treatment and synthetic fungicides. The variables observed in this study were disease incidence, intensity of attack, and total fruit weight at harvest. The use of pesticides in the study showed significant differences from that of the control. The best natural fungicides for disease incidence in this study were CK3 (1,79%) and JK3 (2,94%), while the best natural fungicide treatments for attack intensity in this study were CK3 (11,25%) and JK3 (16,25%). Applying clove and cumin leaf fungicides to plants does not reduce crop yields.

Performance and life cycle assessment of moving-bed biofilm and integrated fixed-film reactors to upgrade activated sludge systems

Upgrading the capacity of existing wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is hindered by the limited space for extension. This matter is particularly crucial in developing countries where dense urban areas experience unexpectedly growing populations. Herein, we study the capacity upgrading of a WWTP working by a conventional activated sludge (CAS) system from 180,000 m3/d to 240,000 and 300,000 m3/d. The WWTP case study focuses on a large plant in Mansoura, Egypt, requiring capacity upgrades to accommodate population growth. For this purpose, we used mathematical modeling to simulate current and suggested WWTP designs. Moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) and integrated fixed film-activated sludge (IFAS) systems were designed to increase the WWTP capacity to 240,000 and 300,000 m3/d by the addition of plastic biofilm carrier to 25% and 50% of the aeration basins, respectively. IFAS outperformed conventional and MBBR systems in terms of BOD, COD, TSS, NH4, TP, and PO4, in addition to increased capacity. We moreover used life cycle assessment (LCA) to comprehend the environmental favorability of upgrading scenarios. The most affected environmental categories are global warming and eutrophication due to the operation stage (especially electricity). Global warming potential for CAS, MBBR, and IFAS (300,000 m3/d) are 2.19, 1.69, and 1.73 kg CO2 eq respectively. Eutrophication potential for CAS, MBBR, and IFAS (300,000 m3/d) are 0.0025, 0.0022, and 0.0017 kg PO4- eq respectively. We also estimated the amortization and running costs for various upgrading scenarios, providing an integrated analysis for decision-making purposes.

Microparticles in Wild and Caged Biota, Sediments, and Water Relative to Large Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Discharges.

Anthropogenically modified microparticles including microplastics are present in municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents; however, it is unclear whether biotic exposures are elevated downstream of these outfalls. In the fall of 2019, the present study examined whether microparticle levels in resident fish, environmental samples, and caged organisms were elevated near the Waterloo and Kitchener WWTP outfalls along the Grand River, Ontario, Canada. Wild rainbow darters (Etheostoma caeruleum) were collected from a total of 10 sites upstream and downstream of both WWTPs, along with surface water and sediment samples to assess spatial patterns over an approximately 70-km river stretch. Amphipods (Hyalella azteca), fluted-shell mussels (Lasmigona costata), and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were also caged upstream and downstream of one WWTP for 14 or 28 days. Whole amphipods, fish digestive tracts, and mussel tissues (hemolymph, digestive glands, gills) were digested with potassium hydroxide, whereas environmental samples were processed using filtration and density separation. Visual identification, measurement, and chemical confirmation (subset only) of microparticles were completed. Elevated abiotic microparticles were found at several upstream reference sites as well as at one or both wastewater-impacted sites. Microparticles in amphipods, all mussel tissues, and wild fish did not show patterns indicative of increased exposures downstream of effluent discharges. In contrast, elevated microparticle counts were found in trout caged directly downstream of the outfall. Across all samples, cellulose fibers (mainly blue and clear colors) were the most common. Overall, results suggest little influence of WWTP effluents on microparticles in biota but rather a ubiquitous presence across most sites that indicates the importance of other point and nonpoint sources to this system. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1047-1061. © 2024 His Majesty the King in Right of Canada and The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Effects of tree density variations on outdoor heritage conservation: Numerical study of an ancient brick city wall with four orientations

Trees possess the potential to safeguard outdoor cultural heritage through the regulation of microclimates in their surroundings. The Leaf Area Index (LAI), a collective measure of the foliar portion within vegetation structure, reflects the regulatory ability of trees. In this study, numerical simulations were performed to compare the hygrothermal conditions of the Nanjing City Wall facing four orientations under the influence of evergreen trees with four LAI values, while also assessing the potential risks of salt weathering and algal growth. The results were as follows: 1) under the protective canopy of trees with identical LAI, the west and east walls experienced the highest temperature fluctuations, followed by the south and north sides. Wall surface temperature fluctuation was negatively correlated with LAI; 2) except for LAI = 1.5, the north wall had the least water content fluctuation under equivalent LAI levels. Water content fluctuation generally exhibited a decreasing trend with rising LAI; 3) at the same LAI level, the south wall presented the highest risk of salt weathering (including efflorescence and subflorescence), whereas the north wall faced the lowest risk. The risk of salt weathering decreased with an increase in LAI; 4) When shielded by trees with identical LAI, the north wall exhibited the greatest risk of algal growth, while the east wall faced least the risk. Higher LAI values were associated with an increased risk of algal growth on the wall surface. These results could provide a theoretical basis for large outdoor immovable heritage conservation and plant management around heritage sites.

Technical and cost analysis of zero-emission high-speed ferries: Retrofitting from diesel to green hydrogen

This paper proposes a technical and cost analysis model to assess the change in costs of a zero-emission high-speed ferry when retrofitting from diesel to green hydrogen. Both compressed gas and liquid hydrogen are examined. Different scenarios explore energy demand, energy losses, fuel consumption, and cost-effectiveness. The methodology explores how variation in the ferry's total weight and equipment efficiency across scenarios impact results. Applied to an existing diesel high-speed ferry on one of Norway's longest routes, the study, under certain assumptions, identifies compressed hydrogen gas as the current most economical option, despite its higher energy consumption. Although the energy consumption of the compressed hydrogen ferry is slightly more than the liquid hydrogen counterpart, its operating expenses are considerably lower and comparable to the existing diesel ferry on the route. However, constructing large hydrogen liquefaction plants could reduce liquid hydrogen's cost and make it competitive with both diesel and compressed hydrogen gas. Moreover, liquid hydrogen allows the use of a superconducting motor to enhance efficiency. Operating the ferry with liquid hydrogen and a superconducting motor, besides its technical advantages, offers promising economic viability in the future, comparable to diesel and compressed hydrogen gas options. Reducing the ferry's speed and optimizing equipment improves fuel efficiency and economic viability. This research provides valuable insights into sustainable, zero-emission high-speed ferries powered by green hydrogen.

Design and test of walk-type rice potted seedling transplanting machine

At present, rice potted seedling transplanting machine is mostly suitable for high-speed, large seedlings and large plant distance rice transplanting. In order to adapt to the transplanting of different types of rice potted seedlings, this study carried out theoretical research and institutional design for transplanting rice potted seedlings suitable for small seedlings and small plant spacing. A 2R open-chain rice potted seedling transplanting mechanism with two non-circular gears meshing to achieve the ideal transplanting posture was developed, and an optimization software for potted seedling transplanting was developed by establishing the kinematic model of the transplanting mechanism, which simulated the motion trajectory and attitude of the transplanting arm during the transplanting process. Through the optimization of the optimization design software parameters, a set of parameters that meet the requirements of transplanting rice potted seedlings in the rear insert rice potted are obtained, a transplanting mechanism suitable for walking rice potted seedling transplanting machine is designed and developed, and the experiments of rice potted seedling picking, conveying and planting are completed. The success rate of the designed walk-type rice potted seedling transplanting mechanism on the bench was 96.7%, and the qualification rate of the whole machine transplanting test was 89.1%.

Potensi Fungi Rizosfer Tanaman Damar (Agathis dammara) Sebagai Agensia Biokontrol Fusarium oxysporum

Plant diseases become one of the dangerous threats to agriculture. Fusarium oxysporum is one of pathogen that attack many agricultural plants. The spread of plant pathogens must be controlled. One of the way to control plant pathogens is to use biological control methods by utilizing biocontrol agents using antagonistic fungi to control F. oxysporum. Antagonistic fungi can be found in various habitats such as rhizosphere soil that contains a lot of exudate released by the roots so that the area is rich in organic compounds. Sampling was carried out in the rhizosphere soil of Damar plants from the Baturraden Botanical Garden. Research on antagonistic fungi from the plant rhizosphere needs further exploration. Therefore, this study was conducted to obtain isolates of rhizosphere fungi that have potential as antagonists against F. oxysporum. This research was carried out with method stages ranging from sampling, isolation, characterization and identification to antagonism tests. The isolation results stated that five different fungi were found from the rhizosphere of the Damar plant. The fungi found were then tested for antagonistic ability against F. oxysporum and it was found that R5 isolate had the best ability to inhibit the growth of F. oxysporum with an inhibitory percentage value of 72.06%. This ability can be new information to be able to develop further about the potential of large plant rhizosphere fungi in their inhibition against plant pathogens.

Direct application of chemically enhanced primary treatment in a municipal wastewater treatment plant: A case study

A feasible and efficient implementation of an Fe-based chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) in a large conventional wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was thoroughly evaluated. The influence of the velocity gradient and hydraulic retention time in the coagulation and flocculation stages, as well as the coagulant (FeCl3) dosage, were evaluated at lab-scale. Standard Jar Tests were performed to simulate CEPT, and the results were compared with those obtained by primary settling without coagulant. The increase in FeCl3 dosage and flocculation hydraulic retention time (HRTF) increased the primary settling COD removal capacity between 6.6% and 18.1%, highlighting its effect on the easily biodegradable COD fraction. The COD removal capacity increased up to 16.8% when working with an HRTF of less than 4 min, facilitating CEPT direct application in conventional WWTPs, avoiding the need to incorporate flocculation chamber, with a corresponding decrease in the associated implementation cost. The presence of residual Fe in the primary settling effluent and an increase in the primary sludge volume were the main drawbacks of the process. The coagulation and flocculation velocity gradients or the coagulation hydraulic retention time did not significantly influence the process.

Nudging safety behavior in the steel industry: Evidence from two field studies

The practice of nudging received much attention in different domains of human behaviour (e.g. finance, health, traffic safety and sustainability), but its relevance has not been systematically investigated for safety in the process industry. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of nudge interventions in promoting safety behavior in the steel industry through field experiments in a large steel plant, particularly in relation to gas hazards and falling from stairs The results of both experiments showed that the nudge interventions were very effective in promoting safety behavior among workers. An icon reminding of the gas dangers on work jackets effectively increased gas detector compliance, while hand print cues were able to promote workers holding onto handrails. Related organizational implications for a safety nudging approach are discussed. Overall, these findings suggest that nudge interventions can be a cost-effective approach to promote safety behavior in the steel industry. The suggested nudge framework should be implemented as part of a holistic safety approach to promote safety behavior among workers and prevent severe accidents.

Modelling effects and control of soil contaminants on the dynamics of plant–herbivore species system

In this paper, we have proposed and analysed a mathematical model to study the effects of impulsive input of contaminants in soil on the dynamics of interacting species system consisting of contaminants, soil-nutrients, plant biomass and herbivore population in order to investigate the criteria for the survival or extinction of plant biomass and herbivore population. The uptake function for herbivore population considered in the model of the paper shows saturation effect and this type of uptake function behave linearly with respect to plant biomass for low density. Also, the saturation for large plant biomass is a reflection of the limited herbivore capability or perseverance when the plant biomass is abundant. Therefore, the uptake function considered in this paper is more natural to lotka volterra and holling type functional responses. We have shown that the plant–herbivore extinction periodic solution exists and also the plant–herbivore extinction periodic solution is locally and globally stable if the impulsive depletion rate of nutrients due to contaminants is more than some critical value. Further, it is concluded that if the impulsive input period for contaminants is increased and impulsive depletion rate of nutrients due to contaminants is decreased then both the plant and herbivore population will survive otherwise they will tend to extinction.

High Resolution Emission Inventory of Greenhouse Gas and Its Characteristics in Guangdong，China

Based on the typical city survey data and statistics of Guangdong Province， a 2018-based 3 km×3 km gridded greenhouse gas emissions inventory was developed for Guangdong Province using the combination of top-down and bottom-up emission factor methods. The inventory covered the CO2， CH4， and N2O emissions from energy， industrial processes， agriculture， land use change and forest， waste management， and indirect sources. The results showed that estimates for CO2， CH4， and N2O in Guangdong Province for the year 2018 were 8.5×108， 1.9×106， and 1.1×105 t， respectively， and 8.5×108， 4.0×107， and 3.4×107 t by equivalent carbon dioxide， totaling 9.2×108 t. CO2 was the main greenhouse gas in Guangdong Province， accounting for 92.0% of the total emissions. Energy and indirect sources were the main emission sources， accounting for 77.9% and 7.6%， respectively， totaling 85.5%. Spatial distributions illustrated that most grids were greenhouse gas emissions， whereas some others were greenhouse gas sinks； the greenhouse gas emissions were distributed mainly in the Pearl River Delta region and had certain characteristics of distribution along the road network and channels. The greenhouse gas grids of high emission were mainly the locations of high energy-consuming enterprises such as large power plants， steel mills， and cement plants.

Climate Change Threatens the Habitat of Pinus massoniana in China

Pinus massoniana Lamb. is one of the main timber tree species. There is a large artificial planting area in South China, and this tree has important economic and ecological value. In this research, we built a comprehensive habitat suitability model based on 115 current data and 22 environmental variables to analyze the potential suitable habitat distribution of this species. Future climate change scenarios were defined as four shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs): SSP 1–2.6, SSP 2–4.5, SSP 3–7.0, SSP 5–8.5) and four periods (including 2021–2040, 2041–2060, 2061–2080, and 2081–2100) based on nine global circulation model datasets. To fully consider the potential distribution of P. massoniana under specific climate change conditions and soil conditions, we constructed an ensemble model using four commonly used model algorithms. The results indicated that the current suitable habitat for P. massoniana covers approximately 1.10 × 106 km2 in southeastern China. In the future, the model results showed that under different climate change scenarios and at different times, the change in suitable habitat for P. massoniana varied; moreover, under moderate climate change scenarios, the average temperature decreased by less than 3 °C and the suitable habitat area decreased slightly, with an area larger than 0.95 × 106 km2. However, under intense warming scenarios, for which the average temperature increased above 3 °C, the suitable habitat for P. massoniana decreased. In the most severe warming scenario, the suitable habitat area for P. massoniana was reduced to 44% of the base climate conditions with severe habitat fragmentation, which should be fully considered in future planting initiatives and plant protection.

Testing strategies to enhance transplant success under stressful conditions at a tidal marsh restoration project

Tidal marsh restoration is becoming an increasingly common tool to plan for future sea level rise. Subsided marshes' elevation can be restored through sediment additions, which may necessitate the reestablishment of vegetation. Understanding key actions to increase vegetation cover at areas that remain persistently bare following elevation restoration is a critical component of a project's long‐term success. Dominant species can shape ecosystem function, as well as ameliorate stressful environments. We transplanted the dominant species, Salicornia pacifica, into bare areas of a restored tidal marsh in central California, United States, 3 years following a sediment addition. We tested salt hardening of plants before transplanting, targeted irrigation, transplant size, and planting configuration to identify management actions that could help vegetation persist in the most stressful areas of the high marsh. Weekly targeted irrigation until the first rains began was critical for small plant survivorship. We found that larger plants had increased survivorship and contributed higher amounts of growth and cover but did not facilitate the performance of nearby smaller plants. After 2 years, we determined that using lone, larger plants was more cost‐effective than multiple smaller plants at our tidal marsh. However, performance was highly site‐specific with dramatically less growth at a drier site with sandier soil. Our results highlight the importance of identifying site‐specific restoration strategies that either ameliorate or help plants tolerate stressful conditions, contributing to the continued success of tidal marsh restoration for climate resilience.