As kelp cultivation increases around the world, so does the need for farm management strategies that produce specific crop characteristics, optimize yield, widen harvesting windows, and prevent biomass loss. Distal-end trimming of macroalgae has been recommended as a farm management method addressing these needs. In this study, we trimmed cultivated Saccharina latissima sporophytes grown in the Western Gulf of Maine (WGoM) to 60 cm above the stipe–blade interface. We characterized the effect of trimming on the morphology, tissue nutrient content, stable isotope ratio, and nitrate reductase activity of the kelp. We also evaluated the economic trade-offs of trimming using a simple production model. The results suggest that trimming the blade to 60 cm may have minimal biological consequences. Additionally, the trimming appears to benefit “short” kelp blades in proximity to the trimmed blades. Daily yield (% increase in weight day⁻¹) after trimming was initially lower than the control, but late-season daily yields and crop-retention following storms were markedly improved. Ultimately, we conclude that growers could use trimming to acquire kelp biomass earlier in the season, retain late-season biomass, and potentially increase the total revenue gained from kelp farming if price premiums can be exacted for this biomass.

中文翻译：

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末端修整对阔叶糖精形态、组成和生产力的影响

随着海藻种植在世界范围内的增加，对生产特定作物特性、优化产量、扩大收获窗口和防止生物量损失的农场管理策略的需求也在增加。大型藻类的末端修剪已被推荐作为满足这些需求的农场管理方法。在这项研究中，我们修剪了栽培的甘蔗孢子体生长在缅因州西部海湾 (WGoM) 至叶柄 - 叶片界面上方 60 厘米处。我们表征了修剪对海带形态、组织营养成分、稳定同位素比和硝酸还原酶活性的影响。我们还使用简单的生产模型评估了修剪的经济权衡。结果表明，将刀片修剪到 60 厘米可能会产生最小的生物学后果。此外，修剪似乎有利于靠近修剪刀片的“短”海带刀片。日产量（天体重增加百分比^-1) 修剪后最初低于对照，但晚季单产和风暴后作物保持率显着提高。最终，我们得出的结论是，如果可以对这种生物质征收价格溢价，种植者可以使用修剪在本季早些时候获取海带生物质，保留晚季生物质，并有可能增加从海带养殖中获得的总收入。