INVESTIGATING DRIVERS AND PROCESSES OF SOIL SALINIZATION AND SALTWATER INTRUSION IN COASTAL AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES OF EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA Grant uri icon

abstract

  • Eastern North Carolina is a very productive agricultural region due to its fertile soils and readily available freshwater resources. In fact, eastern North Carolina is one of the most important agricultural regions in the state and accounts for over $3 billion/year in agricultural revenue or roughly one-third of agricultural revenue statewide. Recently however, agricultural lands adjacent to the coast have begun to suffer from declining soil fertility and crop productivity as a result of soil salinization and saltwater intrusion (SS & SWI). While the threat to the region is recognized, the processes by which saltwater intrudes into agricultural fields in this region are not well-established. Therefore, we seek to determine the mechanisms and pathways by which SS & SWI are affecting crop productivity in low lying agricultural lands along coastal areas of eastern North Carolina. The goals of the proposed research project are to (i) investigate the extent to which natural and artificial channels facilitate the movement of saline water into agricultural fields, (ii) evaluate the role of microtopography on SS & SWI, and (iii) assess the role of geohydrologic controls on SS & SWI in several field sites over a 6- to 12-month period. The research team will involve North Carolina Cooperative extension officers and others as collaborators to engage and liaise with farmers and landowners experiencing issues of SS & SWI in their fields. The research team will host several workshops to build capacity of the stakeholders to be more resilient to the effects of soil salinization and saltwater intrusion in the region.

date/time interval

  • November 2023 - January 2026

contributor