The Influence of Mineral Nutrients on the Growth of Ammophila Arenaria

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Abstract
The importance of levels of essential nutrients in relation to differences in vigor of marram grass, Ammophila arenaria, in different parts of sand-dune systems, was investigated. Major mineral nutrients were added to a pure stand of A. arenaria on a dune slope, and to dune pasture bearing relict marram at Braunton Burrows, North Devon. The plants showed improved vigor, with greater tillering, height and weight, the response being more pronounced on the dune slope where there was considerable sand accretion than on the pasture. In a second approach, small plants were transferred from the dunes to sand cultures under glasshouse conditions. They were subjected to a range of nutrient regimes and growth was measured over a 3-year period. Addition of complete nutrients to sand from Braunton Burrows resulted in vigorous growth, but very little when no N was supplied; nutrients complete except for P and K led to moderate development. When nutrient-poor sand was added to the pots after the plants had been well established enhanced growth was shown in all treatments. For good growth marram, although often found in sand of low nutrient status, requires substantial levels of N, P, K; most frequently N is limiting. The success of marram in areas receiving much blown sand seems partly dependent on the influence of sand accretion on root development.