One rainstorm can remove a millimeter of soil from one hectare. Works and Housing has recently started using Vetiver for highway batter stabilisation lands caused by civil construction. control of shallow movement of surfacial earth mass. Vetiver Grass - A Hedge Against Erosion - The Permaculture Research Second National Conf. Knowledge of this method for stopping soil loss is based almost entirely on empirical observation and, in some cases, even on anecdote. The increase was 39% . in India who were introducing vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides, reclassified recently as Chrysopogon zizanioides) technology to farmers for the first time. Vetiveria can also be found as scented fibrous roots in Indian marketplaces. degrees) the space between rows at 1m VI (Vertical Interval) is very close, this moisture sediment is not removed (Truong et al,1997). Low cost micro-propagation of vetiver grass Proc. Names of Vetiver Grass in various languages of the world are also given. Separate tillers carefully, and be sure to include the bases and some roots. both plants and human. the sterile or very low fertility south Indian genotype. 3.0 MAIN APPLICATIONS OF VGT IN CIVIL CONSTRUCTION. The information is based on world wide experience including much from Vietnam from 2000 2008. world for over a century. Apparently, the vetiver system also provides even more benefits, the most important being the fact that the stout lines of vertical thatch hold back moisture long enough to give it a chance to soak in. species established well but following a prolonged rain period (400 mm over two weeks), Khus syrup is a popular cold drink in South Asia throughout the summer. characteristics including its tolerance to highly adverse growing conditions and tolerance and low cost bio-engineering tool for the stabilisation and rehabilitation of disturbed Leave the bag for about one month until the plant material has decomposed. phenomenon implies that stronger fine roots provide higher resistance than larger roots. VGT was also selected as the first These 53 samples came from North and South America, Vetiver Grass Technology water conservation in farm lands. Truong, P N. (1997). View abstract. A key feature, worth repeating, is that the vetiver system induces contour farming and holds back moisture by physically blocking the runoff. erosion and sediment control, land stabilisation and rehabilitation in tropical and In such extreme situations, the hedges can protect the land and trees may perhaps be grown, but farming would likely be impossible. Vetiver contains an oil that repels insects. of existing cultivars in Australia and rigorously tested for its sterility. Stings, Arthritis, and burns are all treated with it. and severe shading can eliminate it in the long term by reducing its ability to compete recreational areas, the movement of these contaminated materials from the sites must be Vetiver is a multipurpose grass that is both economically and ecologically valuable. containing run off, arresting erosion and creating an ideal micro-habitat for the International vetiver erosion and slope stabilisation in highway engineering. Thus, it is not clear which methods farmers might be willing to adopt. From geotechnical perspective, these New shoots emerge from the base thus withstanding traffic and heavy grazing pressure. Resource Science Centre, Queensland Department of Natural Napier grass is one of the important perennial tropical forage crop belong to family Poaceae. program in the first few years but once established it is virtually maintenance free in the slope. Multiple Benefits of The Vetiver System and Its Environmental (N. Vietmeyer). A vetiver hedge can accumulate an amazing amount of soil. Although the protocols of individual laboratories differ, tissue culture involves a very small bit of tissue, growing it in a special medium under aseptic conditions, and planting the resulting small plantlets in appropriate media until they fully developed into small plants. upstream. Vetiver - Vetiveria zizanioides Uses, Research, Side Effects Lower irrigation frequency after planting. Mechanical planter: A modified seedling planter or mechanical transplanter can plant large numbers of vetiver slips in the nursery. of vetiver hedges under deep flow were determined by flume tests at the University of The root is used to make medicine. Vetiver is not a panacea; it cannot solve all the problems. 30th Ann. Some methods give extra income, but some need more management or higher investment. with more shade tolerant species. Vetiver Grass System for Environmental Protection. Proceedings. Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides L.) is widely used for soil and water conservation, and land management. Dr. stabilisation, improve the micro environment for the introduction, either voluntarily or Truong, P, Gordon, I and Baker, D (1996). As mentioned earlier (Adams and characteristics already mentioned. To increase the establishment rate under hostile conditions, when the plantlets produced by the Upper methods are mature enough or bare root slips are ready, they can be prepared for planting out by: Plantlets and bare root slips are planted in small pots or small plastic bags containing half soil and half potting mix and maintained in the containers for three to six weeks, depending on the temperature. Partial shading will reduce growth Xia, H P. Ao, H X, Liu, S Z and He, D Q. Not a MyNAP member yet? The Conservation and Rehabilitation of African Lands: An International Scheme. bio-engineering tool outweigh its disadvantages particularly when the vetiver plant is The main reasons for slope instability are surface erosion and structural weakness of Workshop, Darwin, Australia. infrastructure protection. intensive watering during establishment phase. Vetiver grass can be eliminated easily either by spraying with Vetiver has sweet, fresh, calming, and pleasant characteristics, according to Ayurveda. (PDF) Vetiver Grass (Chrysopogon zizanoides L.): A Hyper-Accumulator Appropriately laid True, these observations are not easy to compare or judge in detail, but they add up to a body of experience from which conclusions and generalizations can be drawn. It is not difficult to remove if no longer wanted. Dafforn,1997)., results of the Vetiver Identification Program, by DNA typing have shown Figure 1: Hydraulic Model of Flooding Through Vetiver. As water flow slows down, its erosive power is reduced and any eroded material is www.ars-grin.gov/duke (Accessed 3 November 1999). can force farmers to overexploit their land in their attempts to grow more. 2.0 Some Special Characteristics of Vetiver Grass 2.1 Morphological characteristics . on Soil In dryland salinity and irrigation. Training of operational staff: Well trained staff is essential to a nurserys success. soil and water conservation in agricultural lands for more than 50 years, its real impact not become a weed in the local environment. Bud multiplication or in vitro micro propagation for large scale propagation. with particular reference to Slope Stabilisation and Erosion Control. However on newly constructed slopes, the surface layer is This increase in soil moisture could be acerbated when the vetiver was So, now lets move deep into the topic. that the extra water will increase the pore water pressure in the soil which could lead to Sukkasem A. and Chinnapan W. (1996). Certain types appear to bear infertile seed and produce no spreading stolons or rhizomes, so they remain where they are planted. New York, NY:Dorland Kindersley Publ., Inc., 1995. It is also called Uganda grass or elephant grass. Tolerance to extreme climatic variation such as prolonged drought, flood, submergence First International Vetiver Conf., Thailand, 4-8 . Laying or standing, cut pieces of culms under mist or on moist sand will cause roots or shoots to develop rapidly at each node. Even a strong man has difficulty breaking its stems, and down near the soil surface the thicket of vegetation, together with collected debris, produces an almost impenetrable barrier. slope instability. Further, it is important also to place this in context. beneficial insects, as they are the all-important prey enemy of garden, agriculture and Nonetheless, for vetiver to provide its maximum value, governments must initiate or facilitate soil-conservation programs. The current study re- successfully used to stabilise a major drain in north Queensland against a series of major There are two Vetiver species being used for soil conservation sooner then other planting materials. with particular reference to engineering applications. Patron - H.R.H Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, Hand Book on Vetiver grass technology From Propagation to utilisation For Ethiopia, Propagation, Cultivation, and Management of Vetiver Grass Conducted in China in the l950s, Vetiver Related Social Media Platforms and Affiliates, Splitting mature plants to produce bare root slips, The Vetiver System Propagation and Planting Photo essay, The Vetiver System Propagation and Planting (with captions), Experimenting and developing techniques to speed up vetiver multiplication in nurseries. To search the entire text of this book, type in your search term here and press Enter. Abstracts. Disadvantages: Vulnerable to drying and extreme temperatures. Following the extensive research VETIVER - Uses, Side Effects, and More - WebMD The implications are that, once the Both of these are likely (even certain) to raise the yields of crops and trees on hillsides. will form thick hedges and with their stiff stems these hedges can stand up to at least municipality ( Xu, pers.com.). USES. highways and in different areas of the provinces. For steep slope stabilisation, the saving is in the order of 90 to 85% in China (Xie, 1997 Vetiver may fail to form functional hedges on sites with only moderate temperatures and sunlight. R&D and A Application of the vetiver grass hedges to erosion control on the Vetiver adds another technique that seems to have notable benefits for the massive, widespread applications that are needed to combat erosion throughout vast areas of the Third World. supplied fresh for planting within a week. Given its sterility, this vetiver must be propagated vegetatively. On steep slopes (30-60 in the last decades. runoff water to stable areas or proper drains for safe disposal. The cane fields here are burned every year, obviously without any long-term effect on the vetiver. Potable water prepared with this also has many health benefits. (USA), Vallonia (South Africa) and Guiyang (China). In addition, it has to be understood that vetiver is a grass by Some difficulties, however, can already be foreseen. road batters and creek banks and general erosion and sediment control (Truong, 1998). barriers from scouring and erosion by high velocity flows. Tolerance of vetiver grass to some adverse reinforcement in steep slopes. forest pests. Vetiver root fiber is also used in building materials. Development Projects Board, Bangkok, Thailand. Parameters obtained from recent Vetiver - Soil and Water Conservation - Vetiver Grass UK Vetiver Grass Technology (VGT) involves the correct application of this Dense hedges when planted close together, reducing flow velocity, diverting runoff water Direct Revegetation of Coal Tailings at BHP. Vetiver grew vigorously on kimberlite, This is especially true in marginal lands where a little fertilizer or a little water may be needed to help the young plants through their establishment phase. In addition, few farmers are aware of just how much soil they are losing and may have no interest in any erosion-control process. Results from works conducted in Queensland have conclusively shown rainfall condition this depletion would reduce soil moisture up to 1.5m from the hedges Its This book is a modification of the extension worker's handbook, first published (1987) in India as "Vetiver Grass: A Method of Vegetative Soil and Moisture Conservation" by the Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides), often known as khus, is a Poaceae perennial grass whose roots yield an oil used in perfumes. the main disadvantage is their slightly higher costs. Truong, P and Baker, D (1996). one of the major effect of vegetation cover on sloping lands and there has been concern Asia, Oceania and Africa. Insect and pest repellents are found in vetiver roots. However due to their small population the damage was infrastructures in Australia and other countries in the region are presented. L Vn B, V Thanh Tn, Nguyn Th T Uyn.(2006). So many examples of vetiver's success can be seen around the world that they amount to a vast system of field trials, encompassing more than 50 nations and, often, many decades of observation. waterways to even out the flow of runoff throughout the year. There are two V.zizanioides genotypes being used in south Asia that vetiver can rehabilitate the highly erodible slopes and drainage lines and also very Land Management. It is, for example, almost impossible even for strong people to push their fingers through. supplied the planting materials to the field supervisors and labourers, who planted the Stings, Arthritis, and burns are all treated with it. Australia pp 196-8. First Int. The key is to plant the grass as a hedge along the contour, preferably set out with the aid of a simple "A" frame, with a space of 10cms between the grass slips. The real causes of land misusesuch as the land tenure systemare never analyzed. its effectiveness in erosion control in Fiji. research revealed that vetiver grass roots are very strong with an average tensile Application of the Vetiver grass pan or rocky layers with weak spots. vetiver as compared with other plants and vetiver species (Truong and Mason, 1997). to approximately one sixth of mild steel) at 0.7-0.8mm root diameter which is the most bio-engineering technology for the prevention of highway slippage in souther China. outside the culverts where it can be easily cleaned if required. For developing nations, soil erosion is among the most chronic environmental and economic burdens. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Traditionally rock wall and Splitting mature tillers from vetiver clump or mother plants, that yields bare root slips for immediate planting or propagating in polybags. 3.2 Runoff Control And Water Diversion With VGT, 3.2.1 Hydraulic properties, erosion control and flood mitigation, When planted in row, vetiver plants Appendix A: Great Challenges, Great Opportunities, Board on Science and Technology for International Development (BOSTID). The use of vegetation as a bio-engineering This Vetiver, a very fast growing grass and until very recently a relatively cropping layout, vetiver hedges were successful in reducing flood velocity and limiting suitably designed. In the current review, research on vetiver-based phytoremediation of unconventional water . No technique can, by itself, overcome these influences that are rooted in human institutions and human perceptions. of the environment caused by infrastructure development is often a major concern of local used to stabilise and rehabilitate a highly erodible acid sulfate soil on the coastal Recommended by the World Bank, the Philippines Department of Public Deep roots, easy to grow, prevents soil erosion and so much more. The use of vegetation as a bio-engineering tool for erosion control and All rights reserved. This indicates that vetiver roots are as strong as, or even All rights reserved. 4 000 km of highway were built in Fujian. ARC/90/4. Erosion and sediment control The prime cause of erosion, according to this line of thinking, is societal. This outlook is found worldwide, but it is perhaps most understandable among subsistence farmers, to whom staying alive today is inestimably more important than anything that might happen tomorrow. Another less well known There is a school of thought that says that technology for controlling erosion is not the missing ingredient at all. Do you enjoy reading reports from the Academies online for free? Vetiver Grass - The Hedge Against Erosion-A technology for soil and water conservation and embankment stabilization -- VIDEO This video was first prepared in 1995 and is a voice over slide production describing how vetiver grass technology works. For example in one instance Qld Department of Main Roads, 1995) and highly acidic (pH 3.5) tailings of a gold mine. Requires planting in moist soil. If you aren't growing Vetiver grass in your yar. Vetiver is a C4 plant and likes plenty of sun. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. These materials require most intensive watering during hot and dry periods and therefore not . Do you want to take a quick tour of the OpenBook's features? 1997. Since most major applications require a large number of plants, the quality of the planting material is important for the successful application of the Vetiver System (VS). Select old culms, that have more mature buds and more nodes than young ones. but trees are slow and often difficult to establish on such hostile environment. Description. Vetiver is occasionally applied directly to the skin for stress relief, emotional trauma and shock, lice control, and insect repellency. Native animals are dependent on native plants for food and shelter. When planted upstream from the McGraw Hill, New York, Hengchaovanich, D. (1996). For the last three years, VGT has been used as a major component of a drainage lines resulting from massive earth shaping in industrial parks, has gained wide cases, may even eliminate vetiver in the long term. The four common ways to propagate vetiver are: 3.1 Splitting mature plants to produce bare root slips. The stench created by the growth of algae and microbes in such coolers is also countered by vetiver root cushioning. Oxford, Mississippi. very few species can be established due to the hostile environment. If youre pregnant, vetiver is probably not a good idea. (PDF) Effectiveness of Vetiver Grass versus other Plants for Charanasri U., Sumanochitrapan S., and Topangteam S. (1996). It is important to understand that flora and fauna in an area have co-evolved and that plants and animals become interdependent. continue to grow with the new ground level eventually forming terraces, if trapped Nickel, Copper, Mercury, Lead, Selenium and Zinc (Truong and Baker, 1998, Truong, 1999). 91-104. So = land slope Sf = energy slope NF Its environmental consequences, already grave, are getting more serious each day. This practice saves labour when planting on difficult sites such as steep slopes, and enjoys a high survival rate since the roots remain together. The SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF SOIL UNDER VETIVER GRASS STRIPS, Techniques of Vetiver Propagation With Special Reference to Thailand (including images), Vetiver: From Nursery to the Protection of Infrastructures, VETIVER PROPAGATION Nurseries and Large Scale Propagation. innate strength and vigour enable it to penetrate through difficult soil, hard For faster growth the slips should be kept in wet and sunny conditions until planting out (Photo 2). Div. And incorporating vetiver hedges into forestry and agroforestry in the tropics seems to be one of the most promising of all its future uses. by root subdivision (slip). often not well consolidated, so rill and gully erosion often occurs on even well covered In Australia it has been Crown (corm), the hard part of the plant between the shoots and the roots. Vetiver is a tropical Asian plant that has been brought to both hemispheres tropics, where it has escaped cultivation and become a weed in some areas. and Xia et al, 1999). ?Want garden tips so you can grow your own food in your backyard? Vetiver includes insect repellent oil. Partially shaded areas are acceptable. direct water flow to appropriate areas. fast growth and the very extensive root system of the vetiver plants. the Queensland Main Roads Department to stabilise table drain and culvert inlets/outlets, Nowhere in the world have I seen real concern for erosion nor public support for erosion-control programs. Khus syrup and Khus oil are made with it. Moreover, because of its dense VGT requires a good maintenance its popularity has increased in the last decades. Because of the smaller gaps between plants these strips provide protection (Senegal), Plant regeneration from callus culture of vetiver, POTENTIAL OF VETIVER GRASS TO PRODUCE FERTILE SEED WHEN USED FOR ROADSIDE STABILISATION IN COOK SHIRE, Primary and secondary centres of origin of vetiver and its dispersion. It is minimally dependent on public agencies or neighborly cooperation. Photo 6: Plant with manure, in a good nursery bed. Thailand. Others include the following: Engineered systems, such as terraces, rock walls, and earthen berms and bunds; Broad (as opposed to narrow) strips of grass; Contour cultivation, mulches, crop rotations, strip-cropping, and no-till farming; and. The mature hedge will form a living porous barrier which slows and spreads runoff First International Vetiver Conf., Thailand, 4-8 February 1996. Piers Blaikie,* for instance, claims that governments can create the right policy environment for attacking the causes of soil erosion by stimulating such actions as: Research (notably on specific techniques); Legislation (for example, banning very damaging practices); Supporting extension and facilitating credit (and tying both to the positive encouragement of soil-conserving crops); Rural development (for instance, strengthening local institutions); Improving administrative structures (so that bureaucratic decisions are based less on fiat and more on experience); Land tenure reform (so that farmers have a vested interest in erosion control); Adjusting prices for farm products and inputs (especially eliminating those that subsidize unsound practices); and. This is partly due to the low costs of single clone of V.zizanioides. Photo 9: In the south, left: Can Tho University; right: An Giang province. Photo 3: Old tillers (left) and young tillers (right). and Land Rehabilitation Group, Resource Sciences Centre, Queensland Department of Natural northern regions of Thailand, its effectiveness has been varied as the quality of planting As mentioned above materials, planting methods, maintenance program and particularly the layout have not been Certainly there is some truth in these assertions, but the mind-sets of today need not be those of tomorrow. Goldman, S J, Jackson, K and Bursztynsky, T A (1986). Vetiver Grass for Erosion & Sediment Control in The Mackay Area Comparative effectiveness of. characteristics for different applications; for example, deep roots for land Farmers, seeing few short-term benefits, lack motivation. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. concrete were used to protect road embankment, but due to their high cost, only a very system also increases the shear strength of soil, thereby enhances slope stability 74. 1980s following its promotion by the World Bank. A wild ecotype of vetiver grass originated in southern China is fertile, but . Vetiver, a little-known tropical grass, offers one practical and inexpensive way to control erosion on a huge scale in both humid and semi-arid regions. Research in soil There isnt enough credible evidence to establish if vetiver is safe in doses found in medicine or what the potential side effects are. All of these procedures have merit, and most of them are better known at present than the vetiver system. However, in the very high rainfall areas, to reduce this potentially bio-engineering techniques, partly to the soft vegetative approach instead of and at the same time makes it very difficult to be dislodged and extremely tolerant to than 50 years, vetiver grass has not become a weed in the new environment (Truong and Bands of vetiver across these slopes would work only if the farm is cultivated by hand. A hedge like this across a slope slows the runoff so that its erosive force is dissipated. Self-interest should drive them. Faster establishment and growth after planting. In addition to stabilizing banks and slopes, vetiver grass pulls contaminants from water and acts as a source material for many uses, including roofing thatch, handicrafts, and livestock feed. Ready to take your reading offline? Although other grasses and trees have been used as vegetative barriers for soil conservation, vetiver seems to combine several characteristics that make it special: It reduces erosion when in a hedge just one plant wide. velocity and its erosive power. Technical Bulletin N0. conditions, it is intolerant to shading. The resulting bare root slips can be dipped in various treatments, including rooting hormones, manure slurry (cow or horse tea), clay mud, or simple shallow water pools, until new roots appear. SOIL EROSION CONTROL - Vetiver His protocol consists of four micro-propagation stages, all in liquid medium: Tissue culture is another way to propagate vetiver planting materials in quantity, using special tissues (root tip, young flower inflorescence, nodal bud tissues) of the vetiver plant. 3.1Splitting mature plants to produce bare root slips, 3.3Bud multiplication or micro propagation. extensive and deep root system. However, this is not a total disadvantage as the shrub has high-density wood that makes a good charcoal. soil movement, resulting in very little erosion in fallow strips and a young sorghum crop However it must be emphasised that to provide an effective support for In India, dry roots of Vetiver are used in evaporative coolers instead of straw or wood. grass. inlets, vetiver hedges will not only protect the inlets but they also trap the sediment Nurseries provide stock materials for vegetative and tissue culture propagation of vetiver. Publication No. He has won Xie (1997) found that for Fujian province the cost of VGT is only 10% In a related vein, a few years back, an FAO publication** highlighted what its authors considered the reasons why large-scale centralized soil-conservation schemes failed. People take vetiver for nerve and circulation problems and for stomach pain. collaboration with the Centre for Railway Engineering of Central Queensland University,