It has promise as a companion to American beachgrass and sea oats along 

 the Carolina coasts and an initial stabilizer farther south. 



j_ Planting Methods . Transplanting is the same as for 

 American beachgrass. Stems (culms) are set upright by hand or by tractor- 

 drawn mechanical transplanters. 



The ease with which bitter panicum forms new tillers at buried nodes 

 (joints) permits modifications in this planting procedure. Long stems 

 may be planted horizontally in furrows, 10 to 15 centimeters deep, with 

 the tip of the stem left exposed. This results in a new plant at nearly 

 every node. This method has been successful in nurseries to increase 

 planting stock supplies. The method results in a new plant for every 15 

 to 20 centimeters compared with one per 30 to 60 centimeters where stems 

 are set upright in normal fashion. The method is difficult under beach 

 and dune conditions where depth control is a problem. 



An alternate method, which has been successful, requires mowing and 

 raking top growth from the nursery, broadcasting this material on the 

 sand surface, and covering it by discing or plowing. This approach is 

 more mechanized and may result in denser stands than either type of row 

 planting. It is also cheaper where planting stock is plentiful and close 

 at hand. Again, the principal problem is control of planting depth. 

 Shallow planting causes the new shoots to die during dry periods before 

 becoming fully established; planting too deep will cause stored food 

 reserves to become exhausted before new shoots can reach the surface. 



Neither method is reliable where substantial sand movement, either 

 erosion or accretion, occurs during the establishment period. 



2_ Depth . Planting depths for bitter panicum are sim- 

 ilar to American beachgrass. Plants should be set 20 to 30 centimeters 

 deep to prevent drying and subsequent loss that will lead to blowouts. 

 This grass is more sensitive to sand burial than American beachgrass. 

 Dahl, et al. (1975) reported low survival of bitter panicum when sand 

 accumulation buried the uppermost living part of each transplant more 

 than 15 centimeters deep. Survival of unburied plants was 68 percent; 

 survival of plants buried 15 centimeters deep was 29 percent. This 

 illustrates why control of planting depth is critical in furrow planting 

 and plowing or discing of bitter panicum stems. It also explains the 

 poor planting results near unfilled sand fences where sand accumulates 

 rapidly. Care is required to avoid burying the grass too deep. This is 

 another reason to plant sea oats, American beachgrass, or both with this 

 grass. 



_3 Planting Date . Bitter panicum is similar to sea 

 oats in response to planting dates and conditions. It can be trans- 

 planted with some success about anytime of the year, provided moisture 

 conditions at and immediately following transplanting are favorable. 

 Dahl, et al. (1975) obtained excellent survival in each month of the 

 year in at least 1 out of 5 years in the gulf region. They found that 



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