leaving these plants attached to the parent rhizomes improves neither 

 survival nor early regrowth. 



The absence of emerging plants from the rhizome propagules is not 

 surprising since the roots and rhizomes of this plant are dependent 

 upon the leaves and connecting shoots for oxygen supply (Teal and Kan- 

 wisher, 1966; Anderson, 1974). Until contrary evidence is found, the 

 planting of rhizomes without culms in the intertidal zone is discour- 

 aged. Rhizomes without culms are difficult to harvest and transplant, 

 and are useless as disseminules. 



2. Pretransplanting Treatment . 



Although established plants in sandy substrates in North Carolina 

 frequently respond to fertilizer, the benefits from fertilizing at 

 transplanting have been difficult to demonstrate. This is due to the 

 absence in transplants of a developed root system capable of absorbing 

 a significant quantity of applied nutrients. An experiment in pro- 

 viding stimulation to transplants by fertilizing a few weeks before 

 digging, while roots are intact, is presented in Table 3. Although 

 there was some indication of benefit from these applications, the 

 results were inconsistent. This was probably because the erosion in- 

 duced high variability. 



3. Fertilization at Transplanting . 



On an eroding shoreline early growth stimulation of transplants 

 could improve survival. The experiment outlined in Table 4 tested the 

 feasibility of hastening the growth of transplants by fertilization at 

 planting. Although some benefit appeared from these treatments about 

 60 days after transplanting, by the end of the growing season the evi- 

 dence had disappeared. If there was some initial response to applied 

 nutrients, it did not materially affect the final establishment of 

 vegetation. 



4. Greenhouse Versus Field-Grown Transplants . 



Spartina altemiftora plants grown from seed in peat pots were com- 

 pared with field-grown plants by transplanting both at Pine Knoll 

 Shores (Table 5) . The experiment was planted about 1 month later than 

 most of the Pine Knoll Shores experiments. Growth and spread were 

 slow in comparison with other plantings in the area. Although results 

 were variable and inconclusive, it is concluded that peat-pot plants 

 can be justified only where these plants are markedly superior, or 

 where suitable field-grown plants are unavailable. The latter will 

 apply in many situations unless at least 1 year of planning and pre- 

 paration precedes planting. 



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