FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Dasylirion leiophyllum | Smooth-Leaf Sotol 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
The ability of smooth-leaf sotol to survive fire is dependent upon
individual plant morphology and the frequency and severity of fire.  On
3- to 7-year-old burned sites near the northern limits of the Chihuahuan
Desert, smooth-leaf sotol showed losses in excess of 50 percent [1].
Coverage and frequency of smooth-leaf sotol were 75 percent lower on
burned sites than on unburned sites [1]. Two years after an August fire
in a desert mountain shrub community, density of smooth-leaf sotol was
reduced 30 percent.  Coverage on the control (unburned site) was 9.06
percent, while it was only 2.44 percent on the burned site [18].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Smooth-leaf sotol occasionally sprouts from the terminal bud if lightly
or moderately burned [1,9].  Surviving sotol regain most of their
postfire cover within 3 years, but 15 to 20 years are required for
plants to accumulate shaggy bases of dead leaves [1,9].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Periodic fires can be used to maintain or even increase grass cover at
the expense of shrubs such as smooth-leaf sotol in desert communities
[1,9].

Related categories for Species: Dasylirion leiophyllum | Smooth-Leaf Sotol