Dune Stabilization with 'Panicum amarum' along the North Carolina Coast.

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the dune stabilizing and dune building potential of Panicum amarum (bitter panicum) along the North Carolina coast. Experimental plantings with emphasis on bitter panicum together with Ammophila breviligulata (American beachgrass) and Uniola paniculata (sea oats) were made at two coastal locations. On a sandy site about 300 meters inland where there was relatively little sand moving, bitter panicum contributed more of the estimated cover through two growing seasons than either of the other two grasses. Over a 24-month period at a foredune site, bitter panicum accumulated about one-fourth the sand accumulated by either three selections of American beachgrass or mixed species plantings involving all three grasses. Results indicate that the principal values of bitter panicum are in stabilizing sandy coastal areas and in mixed species plantings to build and stabilize coastal foredunes in the southeastern United States.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1976
Accession Number
ADA023178

Entities

People

  • E. D. Seneca
  • S. W. Broome
  • W. W. Woodhouse Jr.

Organizations

  • North Carolina State University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Continents
  • Geographic Regions
  • North Carolina
  • Planting
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Coastal and Marine Engineering/Sediment Transport/Hydraulic Engineering
  • Wetland-Land-Environmental Management.