Growth of Rhizophora apiculata in degraded areas of Ariyankuppam estuary along Pondicherry coastline, southeast coast of India

Rhizophora apiculata seedlings, planted artificially in a degraded mangrove area, were studied for growth as well as some physico-chemical parameters of the plantation site, in monthly intervals for two years. The plant growt h was at higher rates in the first year of plantation and the growth rates of leaf and stilt roots were more in the following year. Thus the mangrove adapted with the degraded site within a year of transplantation, with an av erage growth rate of 3.6 cm/month. The plantation coincided with an increas ed bacterial load in sediments, without significantly influencing other phy sico-chemical parameters.