EFFECTS OF SALT SPRAY AND SAND BURIAL ON SPINIFEX-SERICEUS R-BR

Spinifex sericeus, a common coastal sand dune grass, typically exhibits decreased vigour in the more stabilized section of the dunes when compared with the active foredune. These differences in vigour appear to be related to different environmental conditions across the dunes such as sand burial and salt spray deposition, both generally decreasing with distance inland. An experiment following the fate of foliar and root applications of Na-22 indicated that it may be taken up by the roots or the foliage and then translocated throughout the whole plant, and perhaps even extruded by the roots. Salt spray appeared to have a positive effect on the growth of S. sericeus when applied in conjunction with N and P but had no effect when N and P were not added. Adding acid-washed or non acid-washed foredune sand also resulted in a positive growth response. The results of these experiments indicate that the vigorous growth of S. sericeus on the dynamic sections of the foredunes is due to a stimulation of growth caused by sand deposition.