19. Fertilizer Applications. 



All plantings should be fertilized during the first growing season after planting. The 

 total rate should be split in two or three equal applications, and broadcast in late spring 

 through summer. Laboratory experiments showed that for sea oats, 120-120-120 pounds 

 per acre (nitrogen-phosphous-potassium) gave maximum shoot growth, while 60-120-60 

 yielded maximum root growth. Combined high yields of roots, shoots, and tillers occurred 

 with 120-60-60. For bitter panicum, 120-60-120 pounds per acre gave the highest shoot 

 weight, and 60-60-60 resulted in highest tillering. Field trials on established dunes showed 

 that sea oats did not respond to any level of fertilizer, while bitter panicum increased 

 growth in direct response to increased nitrogen. The heaviest nitrogen application (180 

 pounds per acre) yielded nearly 4 times the control. Any complete fertilizer of 120 to 180 

 pounds per acre nitrogen is recommended for either species for recently planted stands. 

 Fertilization of established dunes, a year or more after planting, did not improve the 

 sand-trapping capability. 



20. Time-Cost. 



With a tobacco transplanter and tractor, a 1-mile beach planting of sea oats, 50 feet 

 wide with 2-foot centers, would require 500 man-hours, while a bitter panicum planting 

 would require 287 man-hours. 



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