FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Yucca glauca | Soapweed Yucca 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Precise effects may vary with season of burn, fire intensity and
severity, and site characteristics.  Postfire mortality of soapweed
yucca has been reported [7,32,45].  However, many observers have noted
that soapweed yucca is extremely difficult to kill with fire [38].
Morphologically similar species frequently survive and resprout even
when all aboveground vegetation is consumed by fire.  Soapweed yucca is
rarely killed by other types of disturbance such as mechanical removal
[45].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
This species is generally capable of regenerating through sprouting of
underground rhizomes, located 4 to 24 inches (10-60 cm) beneath the
surface [45], which are presumably somewhat protected from heat damage by
overlying soil.  Morphologically similar yuccas resprout prolifically
after fire, and although vigorous sprouting has been observed following
mechanical removal of soapweed yucca, a similar postfire response has
not been widely reported in the literature.  However, soapweed yucca has
been observed to decrease in response to burning [7,32].  The protective
bark which covers the rhizomes tends to thicken as plants age, and
limited evidence suggests that older, larger plants are more likely to
regenerate vegetatively [28].  Therefore, it is probable that older
plants are more likely to sprout after fire.  Additional research is
needed to clarify the importance of such factors as fire intensity and
severity, climate, soils, season of burn, and grazing history.  Ecotypic
or geographic variation is also possible.

Recovery of soapweed yucca on d a site may be relatively rapid even
where reestablishment occurs primarily through seed.  Seeds germinate
rapidly [1], and seedlings reportedly establish readily on newly
disturbed sites which lack grasses or other competitors [28].  Maturation
is rapid and flowering has been reported in plants as young as 5 or 6
years of age [45].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
The tender young shoots of soapweed yucca are highly palatable to
livestock, particularly in drier years, and to rodents such as woodrats
[13,45].  Postfire recovery may be poor where rodent numbers are unusually
high [45].  In some areas, grazing must be limited to ensure good
postfire recovery.

Related categories for Species: Yucca glauca | Soapweed Yucca