1979 Plantings 



Based on our preliminary plantings made in December 1978 and the 

 nutrient analysis of initial substrate samples, we established 9 

 experimental plantings in May 1979, using primarily Puccinellia 

 maritima (Fig. 3), to a lesser extent Juncus maritimus (Fig. 4), and to 

 a lesser extent still because transplants were not locally abundant, 

 Spartina maritima (Fig. 5). These experimental plantings were designed 

 to determine transplant response to conventional ammonium sulfate + 

 concentrated superphosphate and slow release (Mag Amp and Osmocote) 

 fertilizer materials at different rates over a wide range of tidal 

 elevations. All transplants were taken from the natural marshes at lie 

 Grande and Kerlavos. Digging of transplants was confined to small 

 areas along narrow drainageways (Fig. 6) and protected sites so as to 

 impact the marsh as little as possible. Half of the 2900 May 

 transplants were plugs (10 to 15 cm deep cores from 5 to 7 cm in 

 diameter composed of root material with attached substrate) and half 

 were sprigs (root material only) (Figs. 7, 8, 9). Holes for the 

 transplants were made with a 6.5-cm diameter soil auger (Fig. 10). 

 Transplants were spaced 0.5 m apart and the appropriate amount of 

 fertilizer material was placed into the transplant hole prior to 

 insertion of the transplant (Fig. 11). Planting was conducted just 

 prior to the spring tide cycle so that transplants would be flooded 

 shortly after planting. 



FIGURE 3. Puccinellia maritima. 



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