The effects of planting technique on the growth of Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link and Lymus arenarius (L.) Hochst.

With marram, planting with the rhizome horizontal produced an increase in horizontal rhizome development and more rapid vegetation cover than planting with the rhizome vertical. Numbers of shoots and leaves were similar in the horizontal and vertical treatments, but vertical plantings produced a tussocky appearance whereas horizontal plantings gave rise to a similar number of tillers strung out in a linear fashion. Rhizome lengths increased with depth of planting although rhizome numbers decreased. Removal from the offset of the tillers and rhizome apex at time of planting reduced shoot production and increased offset mortality. With lyme-grass, growth of horizontal rhizomes was unaffected by orientation of the original rhizome segment, but growth was severely reduced at increased planting depths. Results form the basis for an improved planting technique for dune grasses which sould be useful in developing more effective sand stabilizaton programmes.-from Authors