VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Yucca schidigera | Mojave Yucca 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Browse:  Mojave yucca provides browse for a number of wildlife species
during spring, summer, and fall [30,31].  Although use is comparatively
light in many areas, a southern California study reported Mohave yucca
to be a preferred spring browse species [30.  Use was particularly heavy
during spring and fall on burned sites [30,31].  Although levels of
utilization on these burn sites were somewhat variable, up to 14.8
percent of all Mojave yucca sprouts had been browsed [30].

Livestock rarely utilize Mojave yucca, although small amounts of
immature flowerstalks are occasionally eaten by cattle.  Cattle on
severely overgrazed ranges also reportedly browse Mojave yucca [7].
Domestic goats utilize the leaves of many species of yucca [37] and
probably feed on Mohave yucca where available.

Fruit:  Woodrats and ground squirrels, and presumably other small
mammals, birds, and livestock, consume the fruits and seeds of Mojave
yucca [8,36, R. Hunter, pers. comm. 1989].


PALATABILITY : 
The flowerstalks and foliage of Mojave yucca are palatable to cottontail
rabbits, black-tailed jackrabbits, and some wild ungulates during much
of the year [30].  Palatability may be greatest in spring [30].  The
fruits are highly palatable to a number of small birds and mammals.

The foliage of Mojave yucca is relatively unpalatable to cattle [7], but
the flowerstalks are palatable to cattle until the fruit matures and the
stalks dry out.


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
The nutritional content of Mojave yucca has been examined in detail
[6,36].  Selected nutrient values are as follows [6,36]:

 Water   Ash     Crude          Crude        Fat     N-free
  (%)    (%)     Protein(%)     Fiber(%)     (%)     Extract(%)
---------------------------------------------------------------
 4.31    5.34      4.33          31.64       1.90     52.48



Zn   Cu   Fe   Mn   B   Al   Si   Ba           P   Na    K     Ca   Mg
                (ppm)                              (% dry weight)
--------------------------------------       --------------------------
65   21   111  47   31  44   51   5.0        .28  .006  1.86  1.36  .45


COVER VALUE : 
Mojave yucca provides shade and cover for many small birds and mammals.
Woodrats commonly build nests at the base of plants [36].  Snakes and
lizards also presumably hide or rest in close proximity to this plant.


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Mohave yucca grows in fragile desert environments that are vulnerable to
many types of disturbance [34].  Recovery of these unique arid
communities often requires many centuries.  Evidence suggests that
slow-growing climax species such as the Mohave yucca are particularly
susceptible to deep soil disturbances and recover very slowly [33].

Mohave yucca can be propagated for use in rehabilitation through a
number of methods.  Plants can be grown from seed, which is generally
planted in March or April [28], or sprouts can be cut close to the
parent plant with some roots attached and then planted [37].  Initial
growth on disturbed sites is very slow [R. Hunter, pers. comm. 1989].
Little documentation exists on the potential use of Mohave yucca in
rehabilitation.


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Native Americans of the Southwest traditionally used Mojave yucca for
numerous purposes.  Fruits were eaten raw or dried for later use.
Leaves, which contain high levels of saponin, a detergentlike substance,
were pulped to produce soap.  Fibers obtained from the leaves were made
into rope, twine, hats, hair brushes, shoes, mattresses, and saddle
blankets [20].

Experiments conducted during the early part of this century indicated
that fibers derived from many yuccas could serve as a satisfactory
substitute for jute because of their relatively high tensile strength
(50.4 km) and lustrous white appearance [5].  Extracts made from
steroidal saponins of Mojave yucca are used to treat arthritis and as
antistress agents for humans and poultry [16].  Derivatives of these
useful compounds are used as plant fertilizer, as additives to promote
weight gain in cattle, and to lessen ammonia formation of poultry wastes
[10,16].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Productivity:  Productivity of Mojave yucca varies greatly according to
site.  In California chaparral communities, Tratz [30] reported
production ranging from 0.45 to 1.1 pounds (20-5-489 g) per plant, with
highest levels occurring on drier ridges.  Average Mojave yucca biomass
has been estimated at 837 pounds per acre (927 kg/ha) [25] and up to
8,283 pounds per acre (9,300 kg/ha) in dense stands [36].

Mechanical removal:  Efforts have been made to reduce or eliminate
Mojave yucca through mechanical means.  Results of these experiments
suggest that the greater the injury, the less likely the recovery of
Mohave yucca [37].  Plants that had only sprouts and leafheads severed
produced many more sprouts than did plants that had the entire stem
removed [37].  Plants which were mechanically damaged in May produced 0
to 9 sprouts, 3 to 9 inches (8-23 cm) long by the following June [37].
Sprouts from the less severely damaged plants generally appeared to be
more vigorous.

Chemical control:  Mojave yucca appears to be resistant to atrazine
herbicides [R. Hunter, pers. comm. 1989].

Related categories for Species: Yucca schidigera | Mojave Yucca