FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Amorpha canescens | Leadplant 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Leadplant is generally resistant to fire mortality.  The aerial portion
of the plant is most likely damaged or killed by fire, but underground
parts survive.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Available fire effects information indicates that leadplant is well
adapted to disturbance by fire.  Postfire recovery is generally rapid.
Height, crown width, and cover have been shown to increase in response
to fire [6].  Leadplant most likely recovers following fire via
sprouting from rhizomes, the root crown, or roots.  Some seedling
establishment from seed stored on-site [20] or transported by animals is
also possible, particularly on sites where fire has removed the litter
and exposed bare mineral soil.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
Several studies have compared prefire and postfire levels of leadplant.

A remnant tallgrass prairie in eastern South Dakota dominated by
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) was burned in April and then again in
May of the following year.  Leadplant (listed as a forb on this site)
increased dramatically following the first fire and then decreased after
the second fire [5].

In the Black Hills of South Dakota, Gartner and Thompson [15] found that
although leadplant frequency on their control was higher than on the
burn plot before fire, frequency levels after the fire were nearly
equal:

                 PREFIRE                      POSTFIRE
              control  burn                control  burn
              (% frequency)                (% frequency)

               13.0    6.0                  45      44

Bock and Bock [6,7] studied the effects of fire on ponderosa forests in
the southern Black Hills.  Leadplant increased significantly in density,
height, and crown width after spring and fall surface fires.  It also
increased dramatically after an intense crown fire in this type [See
Fire Case Study for details].

Lowland and upland tallgrass prairie sites in the Flint Hills of Kansas
were burned in mid- to late April.  Leadplant cover increased on the
lowland sites but remained unchanged on the upland sites.  The upland
soils were thin and well drained, while the lowland soils were deep,
thick, colluvial and alluvial deposits with better water storage
capabilities than the upland soils [1].  Site differences may have
contributed to the different responses.


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Late spring fires (aroung May 1) are recommended for increasing
leadplant [2].

Related categories for Species: Amorpha canescens | Leadplant