The effects of planting density and nutrient addition on container-grown vegetative propagules of halophytic grasses

ABSTRACT The halophytic grasses Spartina alterniflora and Spartina densiflora are bioengineer species, which can be utilized on the mitigation of disturbed areas of salt marshes and mangroves, for coastal erosion control and to stabilize dredged material disposed in estuarine and coastal areas. The effects of planting density and fertilization with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on container-grown (0.15 m2; 7500 cm3) vegetative propagules of both species were evaluated under greenhouse conditions, through two experiments during the years 2009 and 2011. In 2009, only S. alterniflora was cultivated within 2 planting densities (133 and 400 propagules m-2) and 2 levels of fertilization (without addition and with total addition of 50.8 gN m-2 and 16 gP m-2). In 2011, containers with 80 propagules m-2 of both species received N and P fertilization rates of 2N:1P, 6N:1P, 10N:1P and 14N:1P (for a total addition of 115 gN m-2). NP fertilization stimulated leaf formation and, in fertilized containers, the average number of S. alterniflora tillers was twice larger than control treatments. However, initial planting densities of 400 or more propagules m-2 resulted in excessive vertical growth of S. alterniflora tillers (about 100 cm height), which can result into plant losses during handling and transplantation. For both species, the 2N:1P fertilization rate resulted in higher tillering.