Improving coastal resiliency one plant at a time
by Spooner, Kate
Maximizing germination and survival rates of three native salt marsh plant species: Smooth Cordgrass, Saltgrass, and Marsh Elder was the goal of the research project that Acadia University's K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre undertook for Rising Tide Nursery. This in-depth research on these keystone coastal wetland species was performed by Propagation Specialist, Kendra Sampson with funding support from the Invest Nova Scotia Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program.
This project created a protocol that increased germination success rates and seedling survival of these three species, as well as determined the optimal soil mixture. The increased seedling production efficiency, consistency, and reliability, resulting from higher germination rates and less plant loss, has allowed Rising Tide Nursery to more sustainably meet client needs while ensuring profitability and competitiveness in the market.