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Faculty Advisor

Maruthi Sridhar Balaji Bhaskar

Author Biographical Statement

Samarah Martin, a senior at Florida International University, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in environmental studies. Under the FIU Agroecology program, her ambition is to join the U.S. Department of Agriculture upon graduation, where she aims to focus on crop pest management and sustainability. With a passion for equitable government policies, Samarah also seeks to advocate for social programs to enhance crop production and improve the well-being of agricultural workers. Through her work, she aims to address climate change and public health challenges, revolutionizing farming practices for a more sustainable future.

Abstract

Rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion in aquifers pose significant challenges for South Florida agriculture, leading to increased groundwater salinity and potential crop losses. Utilizing salttolerant crop species presents a potential solution for saline soils and regions with active saltwater intrusion. However, the effects of soil salinization through groundwater alone remains less studied. This research investigates the impact of short-term, below-ground saltwater stress on the growth, survival, and overall health of commonly grown cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum). The objectives of the study are to: 1) determine the impact of saline groundwater on tomato plant health and 2) compare the nutrient content of soil and tomato plant tissue exposed to varying concentrations of saline water. Established cherry tomato plants were exposed to varying concentrations of NaCl solution, simulating saltwater intrusion into groundwater. Over 28 days, plant height, leaf chlorophyll levels, and disease occurrences were monitored. It was found that the NaCl treatments did not significantly affect cherry tomato performance under the parameters of height, chlorophyll levels, or leaf nutrition when compared to the control group. This study suggests that cherry tomatoes can tolerate short-term exposure to NaCl in groundwater. Further exploration of more intense salt stress conditions from groundwater could be beneficial for utilizing this crop in areas with saline soils or polluted groundwater. Identification of salt-tolerant cherry tomato varieties can provide alternative crop options for non-arable land affected by high soil salinity.

DOI

10.25148/URJ.020116

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