Seedling morphological traits were significantly affected by continual burials.
Burials between 1 mm d−1 and 2 mm d−1 stimulated plant morphological response.
Hypocotyl elongation might occur at the expense of development of the root system.
Suaeda salsa had a special strategy to tolerate continual burials in study marshes.
Thin-layer burial (2 mm d−1) was favorable for promoting S. salsa seedling vigor.