FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Salix boothii | Booth Willow 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Light to moderate fires top-kill Booth willow.  Severe fires can kill
willows completely by removing soil organic layers and charring the
roots [14].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Booth willow is a fire-tolerant shrub that has a short postfire
regeneration period [19].  Its seeds need a nutrient-rich mineral
seedbed to germinate.  The chance of Booth willow establishing after a
fire lessens as available mineral soil seedbeds become occupied by
faster growing herbaceous species and mosses [3].  Fire severity affects
the mode of willow postfire recovery.  Following light-severity fires
most willows recover quickly, sending up new shoots from undamaged root
crowns.  Few, if any , seedlings establish following this type of fire
because the partially consumed organic soil layers comprise an
unfavorable seedbed.  Following severe fire, however, the primary mode
of recovery is seedling establishment.  Severe fires that burn into
organic soils kill willows, but expose mineral soils which provide
excellent seedbeds [35].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Prescribed burning of Booth willow stands is an effective method of
rejuvenating decadent clumps and stimulating sprouting [25].  Fires
increase the amount of browse available for herbivores because browse
species such as willow proliferate in early postfire succession [14].
 

Related categories for Species: Salix boothii | Booth Willow