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Marram planting (Ammophila arenarea)
Ammophila is the most frequently planted
and most successful means of stabilising mobile sand both in the foredune and
within the dune itself. It is often accompanied by the erection of fencing
to encourage the deposition of sand.
Typically existing plants of marram are collected from areas within the dune
where vigorous growth is occurring. The plants are uprooted and broken at a
point which leaves part of the rhizome available to be planted in mobile dune
sand elsewhere. Practical guidance on how to do this for marram Ammophila
arenarea, (as well as the less frequently used lyme-grass Leymus
arenarius and sand couch Elytrigia juncea)
is given in the Scottish Natural Heritage beach
management publication. Other sources are:
- BTCV
publication;
- Detailed scientific studies have been carried out of the methods of planting
vegetative shoots (culms and rhizomes) and seeds (van
der Putten 1990).
- Studies also show that in areas where there is little or no sand accumulation
disc-harrowing rhizome fragments and spreading these on the sand can be effective
in re-establishing vegetation (van der Laan et
al. 1997)
Apart from the obvious caveat that the source area should not be made vulnerable
to erosion by the removal of plant roots and rhizomes, this is a traditional
and much used method throughout Europe.
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Guidance: Marram planting is a well tried and tested means of
restoring sand dunes, much preferable to placing artificial structures
on sandy beaches or sand dunes. It is important to recognise that marram
grass, if introduced into a location where it is not native, can become
invasive. This is the case in California where it is described as "an
invasive European beach grass... which... severely reduces opportunities
for regeneration of native American plant species including the beach
grass Leymus mollis." (Aptekar
& Rejmánek 2000).
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References
Aptekar, R. & Rejmánek, M.
2000.
The effect of sea-water submergence on rhizome bud viabiltiy of the introduced Ammophila arenaria and the native Leymus mollis in California..
Journal of Coastal Conservation, 6/1., 107-111.
van der Laan, D., van Tongeren, O.F.R., van der Putten, W.H. & Veenbaas, G.
1997.
Vegetation development in coastal foredunes in relation to methods of establishing marram grass (Ammophila arenaria).
Journal of Coastal Conservation, 3/2., 179-190.
van der Putten, W.H.
1990.
Establishment of Ammophila arenaria (marram grass) from culm, seeds and rhizomes.
Journal of Applied Ecology, 27/1., 188-199.
Abstract...
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