Wetland plant growth in recycled glass sand versus dredged river sand: evaluating a new resource for coastal restoration

• DOI: 10.1111/rec.70020
• Publication Date: 2025-03-13T02:54:46Z
• Authors: Elizabeth H. MacD...; Bek X. L. Markel; Emily C. Farrer; Shehbaz Ahmad; Julie N. L. Albert; Sunshine A. Van Bael
• Keywords: Dredging

Sand made from recycled glass cullet could supplement limited dredged river sand (dredge) in coastal wetland restorations; however, its suitability for plants is unknown. In two experiments, we compared the biomass of several to growth dredge. First, grew Salix nigra , Zizaniopsis miliacea and Sporobolus alterniflorus fine‐ coarse‐glass sands, dredge, a coarse‐glass/dredge mixture. Second, Taxodium distichum Schoenoplectus californicus revised blend, mix. We characterized substrate porosity, particle density, bulk density both experiments tested how nutrients, metals, pH impacted S. leaf contents. found species‐specific responses substrates: herbaceous species better mix dredge than alone, whereas trees equally well coarse glass, mix, Glass was less dense When saturated compressed, finer‐grained mixes had lower estimated porosities coarser chemistry resembled that plant's substrate. This study demonstrated can grow sand, mixtures have effects, structure help explain these differences. Thus, it opens door broader field studies on best be used restoration efforts.