FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Tamarix ramosissima | Saltcedar 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Saltcedar generally survives fire, although very hot fires may prevent
sprouting [15,23].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
Following a burn at Lees Ferry, Arizona, 90 percent of the mature
saltcedar survived a hot crown fire, and sprouting shoots exceeded 6.5
feet (2 m) in height within 5 months [15].  However, only 36 percent of
burned plants sprouted within 1 year following a July fire at Ouray
Refuge, Utah.  Following September and October fires, 91 to 96 percent
of burned saltcedar plants sprouted [20].


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Fire generally promotes sprouting and flowering of saltcedar [23,25].
Following an August fire, 69 percent of 144 burned plants were blooming
heavily, while only 10.9 percent of 101 unburned plants on adjacent
control areas were blooming [43].  If a favorable seedbed is created,
wind- and water-dispersed seeds colonize burned sites.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Prescibed burning alone is not an effective control method for
saltcedar.  However, burning followed by herbicide application is
effective [4].  Late July burning in Utah, followed by spraying sprouts
with 2,4-D 1 month after the fire, prevented 99 percent of the plants
from sprouting the following year [20].  Fall burning followed by 2,4-D
application was ineffective at controlling saltcedar [20].

Related categories for Species: Tamarix ramosissima | Saltcedar