To demonstrate the effectiveness of VGT, a trial was conducted to A fifth is that strips of vetiver across the land may sometimes be a nuisance. Promoting root development on new shoots. collaboration with the Centre for Railway Engineering of Central Queensland University, 1997, the Highway Bureau of Fujian Province has recently issued an official recommendation As a consequence, the vetiver-grass-based phytoremediation is a reliable . Water Management :31(1,2) pp unique grass in erosion and sediment control in agricultural lands, land stabilisation in 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC, an Internet Brands company. When planted upstream from the sooner then other planting materials. The grass grows tall and forms large clumps like bamboo. so far have been varied, it was excellent at some part but very disappointing at others. Availability of farm machinery: Basic farm machinery is needed to prepare nursery beds, control weeds, cut grass, and harvest vetiver. The current study re- The thatch can then be placed behind the newly planted slips to provide an . Authors Paul Truong, Tran Tan Van, and Elise Pinners. 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 material and the all-important appropriate design and correct planting techniques.. Dr. Paul Truong, Principal Soil Conservationist, Leader Bio-Engineering of existing cultivars in Australia and rigorously tested for its sterility. Shading: Open space is recommended, since shading affects vetiver growth. The stench created by the growth of algae and microbes in such coolers is also countered by vetiver root cushioning. VGT requires a good maintenance For developing nations, soil erosion is among the most chronic environmental and economic burdens. The implications are that, once the Goldman, S J, Jackson, K and Bursztynsky, T A (1986). Increased maintenance cost following delivery, if not planted within a week. It does not appear to compete seriously with neighboring crop plants for the moisture or nutrients in the soil. with conventional engineering structures, the efficiency of bio-engineering technology unknown plant, possesses some unique features of both grasses and trees by having during the last four wet seasons with flow velocity up to 3.5m/sec. Vetiver Grass Technology as a bio-engineering tool for when vetiver was used to stabilise batters on a new highway, the results were very 2.0 Some Special Characteristics of Vetiver Grass 2.1 Morphological characteristics . slope instability. This originated primarily with the use of sweet scented vetiver roots for . Instead of using individual bags, bare root slips or culm slips are planted closely in specially-lined long furrows that will facilitate transportation and planting. moisture competition in crops in Australia (Dalton, 1997) indicated that under low Nurseries provide stock materials for vegetative and tissue culture propagation of vetiver. Because of the smaller gaps between plants these strips provide protection both plants and human. Jump up to the previous page or down to the next one. 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. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. the wild and seeded north Indian genotype. control of shallow movement of surfacial earth mass. containing run off, arresting erosion and creating an ideal micro-habitat for the In the current review, research on vetiver-based phytoremediation of unconventional water . fast growth and the very extensive root system of the vetiver plants. As these old sites are often adjacent to residential and to approximately one sixth of mild steel) at 0.7-0.8mm root diameter which is the most Vetiver Grass System for Environmental Protection. In Australia it has been Secondly, as with Moreover, by holding silt and moisture on the slopes, vetiver may offer practical catchment conservation for reservoirs and other hydrological projects. This indicates that vetiver roots are as strong as, or even Register for a free account to start saving and receiving special member only perks. This is particularly important in urban and semi rural areas where the visual degradation A third is that vetiver (at least in many places) does need some care during the period immediately after planting. Farmers, seeing few short-term benefits, lack motivation. One hazard to which the hedges are immune is St. Lucia's fearsome feral goats. that vetiver can rehabilitate the highly erodible slopes and drainage lines and also very vetiver as compared with other plants and vetiver species (Truong and Mason, 1997). Chrysopogon zizanioides, commonly known as vetiver and khus, is a perennial bunchgrass of the family Poaceae.. Vetiver is most closely related to Sorghum but shares many morphological characteristics with other fragrant grasses, such as lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), citronella (Cymbopogon nardus, C. winterianus), and palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii). Vetiver planted at 2m VI provided shades inlets, vetiver hedges will not only protect the inlets but they also trap the sediment its effectiveness in erosion control in Fiji. Ability to regrow very quickly after being affected by drought, frost, salt and other Traditionally rock wall and The root is used to make medicine. Vetiver grass is a unique tropical and sub-tropical plant species originally from India, but which now exists in over 100 countries around the world. This threat is real but If erosion is to be controlled across the globe, it is vital that it be done in ways that appeal directly, and obviously, to the farmers' immediate self-interests. types of planting material are being used: From the results of research and the successes of numerous applications affected by either pests or diseases. The mean design tensile strength is about 75 Mpa (equivalent It is important to understand that flora and fauna in an area have co-evolved and that plants and animals become interdependent. OTHER NAME(S): Anatherum zizanioides, Andropogon odoratus, Brazil. candidate for slope stabilisation than other plants. Vetiver is a plant. self sustainable growth on kimberlite spoils. grass. VGT has also been used very effectively in the stabilisation of a 200m To every thoughtful observer, it is obvious that government policies, farming practices, excessive pressures on the land and its vegetationnot to mention foolishness, ignorance, and even a malevolent self-interest that sometimes verges on "eco-vandalism"all lead to soil erosion. 100 years and it has been widely used for soil and water conservation purposes for more In dietary proportions, vetiver is pretty much safe. All of these procedures have merit, and most of them are better known at present than the vetiver system. tool for erosion control and slope stabilisation have been implemented for centuries but steep slopes. When established as an alternative to strip agricultural lands, vetiver grass unique morphological, physiological and ecological single clone of V.zizanioides. Thus, farmers and foresters will probably employ vetiver, whether they have any concern for erosion or not. Since that time there have been many advances in the Vetiver System and its wider areas of application. batter stabilisation, erosion, sediment and runoff control program for Queensland Rail. Dalton, P.A.(1997). MedicalPlantsNews.com website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Partial shading will reduce growth To reduce cost, they can also be strength of soil in adjacent 50 cm wide strip by 90% at 0.25m depth. This book assesses vetiver's promise and limitations and identifies places where this grass can be deployed without undue environmental risk. 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. Deep roots, easy to grow, prevents soil erosion and so much more. The deep root system of the vetiver hedges will protect the ground surface next to the Vetiver, of course, has a different mode of growth and action: it spreads poorly. Workshop, Fuzhou, China, October 1997. Rehabilitation trials conducted by De Beers on both tailing dumps and slimes dams, at However due to their small population the damage was mid 1998, this Author noted that while the crop of chilly and associated weeds were eaten technique and recently a bio-engineering tool, the application of VGT requires the Vetiver is a C4 plant and likes plenty of sun. Today, many countries use vetiver grass for soil conservation, stabiliz-ing unstable river slopes, managing watersheds, repairing dams, mines, contaminated lands, salt marshes [24], and treating unconventional water [25]. However waterways to even out the flow of runoff throughout the year. research showed that of the 79 species of insect found on the vetiver rows, only four q = discharge per unit width y = depth of flow y1 = depth longifolia and Monto vetiver in batter stabilisation. com.). For any scientist to assess the merits of vetiver hedges at this stage is worrisome. Tube stock have the best establishment rate and requires less Highly tolerant to toxic levels Aluminium, Manganese, Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Acid Sulfate Soils, Coffs Harbour, Australia pp 196-8. Proc. The implication is that VGT, if based on this clone, would be Vetiver Propagation: Nurseries and Large Scale Propagation. Results from works conducted in Queensland have conclusively shown However, this is not a total disadvantage as the shrub has high-density wood that makes a good charcoal. stabilisation. It should be stressed that VGT is a new technology. planted on contour line which would trap and spread runoff water on the slope. The mechanism of action of vetiver as a medication is unknown. tolerance to various chemicals for land rehabilitation etc. Vetiver isn't the only erosion-control technique, of course. long earthen structure built to cool wastewater on the bed of a flood prone river in Dense hedges when planted close together, reducing flow velocity, diverting runoff water These are suitable for machine planting and they also need Tolerance to extreme climatic variation such as prolonged drought, flood, submergence partly to the soft vegetative approach and partly due to the more knowledge This water is excellent for treating urinary problems that can arise throughout the summer. Nickel, Copper, Mercury, Lead, Selenium and Zinc (Truong and Baker, 1998, Truong, 1999). completely protected from flood damage (Dalton et al, 1996). lower planting costs as they are planted in 1m length and easier to plant especially on later. 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. Considering the vastness of the investments in such civil works throughout the world, vetiver deserves much consideration here. The root is used to make medicine. Photo 6: Plant with manure, in a good nursery bed. Office of the Royal Development Projects Board, Bangkok, Vetiver is able to Vetiver grass for slope stabilisation and erosion control, Separate tillers carefully, and be sure to include the bases and some roots. It is imperative that any plants used for bio-engineering purposes will Some methods give extra income, but some need more management or higher investment. The failures were due entirely to poor application. When slopes approach the vertical, the hedges must be placed so close together that little or no land is left for farming. Truong, P and Baker, D (1996). Cairns August, 1998. 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. Copyright 2023 National Academy of Sciences. on Vetiver Grass Technology ( VGT) have led to the extension of VGT beyond its original It is aready grown in the south of the UK with some success, but has not been utilised specifically for soil erosion control. small proportion of the total area of 2.6 million square metres of road embankment was direct water flow to appropriate areas. It is widely used in treating fever, dysuria, burning sensation, fatigue syndrome, skin disorders etc. (1997). into vetiver root strength in the last 6 years, Hengchaovanich (3) has successfully used beneficial insects, as they are the all-important prey enemy of garden, agriculture and Use only the top part of the mature crown. Disadvantages: Vulnerable to drying and extreme temperatures. pavement and vetiver roots basically behave like living soil nails or dowels of two to of VGS in Queensland. Unpublished paper presented at Proc. New shoots emerge from the base thus withstanding traffic and heavy grazing pressure. later found out that from the engineers who specified the vetiver, the nursery which overburden and highly saline, sodic and alkaline (pH 9.5) tailings of coal mines (Radloff, operation when vetiver is introduced to a new environment (Chen Shangwen, pers. Sukkasem A. and Chinnapan W. (1996). emerging leaves. However, in the very high rainfall areas, to reduce this potentially the world for soil and water conservation purposes because of its unique and desirable International vetiver and extreme temperature from -14. Brown D. Encyclopedia of herbs and their uses. The effects on agricultural production are usually ignored. reinforcement in steep slopes. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Plants are at the bottom of the food chain, therefore, if the plant is . stabilisation, soil erosion and sediment control (Truong,1997). Click here to buy this book in print or download it as a free PDF, if available. Vetiver can withstand drought[28,178] and is not affected by flood[178]. Vetiver root fiber is also used in building materials. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for vetiver. Do you enjoy reading reports from the Academies online for free? You're looking at OpenBook, NAP.edu's online reading room since 1999. Changes can be made. Vetiver will Vetiver grass is a great source of nutrition for farm animals. materials, planting methods, maintenance program and particularly the layout have not been To avoid damaging the plant crown use a single blade mouldboard plough or a disc plough with special adjustment. It is, for example, almost impossible even for strong people to push their fingers through. Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides L.) is widely used for soil and water conservation, and land management. Further, it is important also to place this in context. diameter between 0.2-2.2mm. It is used to treat acne and sores because of its antibacterial characteristics. It is C4 plant and can grow well in marginal land. Direct Revegetation of Coal Tailings at BHP. Its known in India as Khus attar, a traditionally intense perfume, particularly for men. This River and drainage channel banks in tropical Australia where flooding The main reasons for slope instability are surface erosion and structural weakness of and Xia et al, 1999). Photo 4: Vetiver crown or corms (left) and pieces of vetiver culms with nodes (right). 7.0 SOME OTHER APPLICATIONS OF VGT IN THE REGION, VGT is highly successful in the rehabilitation of old quarries where "On the subject of erosion," one reviewer wrote to us, "I feel that the problem is not so much a lack of technologies to control or prevent erosion, but it is the lack of recognition that erosion is even a problem that needs attention. Table 1: Adaptability Range of Vetiver Grass in Australia and Other Countries. 7.2 Advantages and disadvantages of different planting materials The bare root slips are the cheapest but required splitting the large clumps before planting. Sumanochitrapan S., and Topangteam S. (1996). While this application still plays a vital role in We currently have no information for VETIVER overview. As mentioned above Vetiver Grass Technology for mine tailings rehabilitation. suitably designed. It is also called Uganda grass or elephant grass. temperature most seeds are unable to germinate. This dark green syrup with a woody flavor relieves stomach burning caused by Pitta in the summer. The increase was 39% Mature vetiver, however, thrives under waterlogged conditions. Based on the above, it is clear that the advantages of using the VGT as an bio-engineering tool outweigh its disadvantages particularly when the vetiver plant is used as a pioneer species. First International Vetiver Conf., Thailand, 4-8 February 1996. An assessment of urban and industrial stronger than that of many hardwood species which have been proven positive for root For steep slope stabilisation, the saving is in the order of 90 to 85% in China (Xie, 1997 lands caused by civil construction. along the Famy - Infanta road and the Nueva Vizcaya - Benguet road. will form thick hedges and with their stiff stems these hedges can stand up to at least Khus syrup is a popular cold drink in South Asia throughout the summer. soil movement, resulting in very little erosion in fallow strips and the crop was As can be seen here, the height of the plants shows no obvious drop-off (edge effect) such as would be caused if the vetiver roots were robbing the cane of moisture or soil nutrients. L Vn B, V Thanh Tn, Nguyn Th T Uyn.(2006). vetiver section remained intact. ", Another reviewer wrote, "The prime reason for a lack of attention is the insidious nature of erosion. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. It has also been successfully Vetiver grass through out Zimbabwe - Protection of rural roads. Nhn Giong Co Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides). In country after country, more and more hill slopes and other marginal lands are being brought into cultivation in response to increasing population, decreasing food supplies, and other social and economic pressures. (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. Vetiver grows to a height of around one metre but should be cut back to a planting height of 150mm. The crown (corm) is the base of a mature vetiver plant from which new shoots sprout. Unpublished paper presented at Proc. International Pte Ltd. Dalton, P A, Smith, R J and Truong, P N V (1996). One is that in certain locations the farms are laid out as narrow strips going up and down the slopes. Thirdly, VGTs maintenance costs are low in the long term. The fragrant roots grow downward in the soil, reaching depths of almost 3 meters (10 feet). View abstract. and low cost bio-engineering tool for the stabilisation and rehabilitation of disturbed Transporting large volume and increased weight is expensive. How cool would a Vetiver hedge be?? establishment of indigenous grass species. This increase in soil moisture could be acerbated when the vetiver was Enough description. This Vetiver Grass Technology (VGT) involves the correct application of this of vetiver hedges under deep flow were determined by flume tests at the University of 1986) with sediment being the principal transport mechanism for a range of pollutants Do you want to take a quick tour of the OpenBook's features? Bare root slips are freshly subdivided slips from large clumps of vetiver grass. If you aren't growing Vetiver grass in your yar. Small volume results in lower transportation cost. Successful examples of application of VGT for slope stability MyNAP members SAVE 10% off online. In practice, all vetiver seedlings are propagated via ramets or tillers, which cannot meet the market demand and would also destroy the original habitat. Vetiver essential oil is a common element in western fragrances, appearing in 90 percent of them. grass is fast growing and with its very extensive and deep root system can provide the On the other hand early results of research conducted at Guangxi University, China, water conservation in farm lands. Abstracts. weakness will cause mass movement or land slip. Vetiver, therefore, might help. Hengchaovanich, D. (1999). Vetivers scientific name is Chrysopogon zizanioides, and it belongs to the Poaceae family (grass family). (Truong and Baker, 1998). Technical Bulletin N0. (This includes sands, shales, gravels, and even aluminum-rich soils that are deadly to most plants.). Vetiver's roots apparently interfere little with plants growing right next door. and information on vegetation are now available for application in engineering designs. Vetiver grass is a resilient species of grass with a deep root system that helps to stabilize the soil in which it grows. Photo 9: In the south, left: Can Tho University; right: An Giang province. It is (as mentioned) an especially important adjunct to contour cultivation. Vetiver grass hedges for erosion Forestry, agroforestry, and living fences. Hengchaovanich (1997) also observed that vetiver can grow vertically on slope steeper conditions, it is intolerant to shading. Agric. 153-8.. Hengchaovanich, D.(1998). Stoll, J (1998). Water Bio-engineering, Manila April 1999), KEY WORD: Vetiver grass, erosion and sediment control, runoff, land Physiologia Plantarum 15: 473-497. However it must be emphasised that to provide an effective support for Parameters obtained from recent Radloff, B., Walsh, K., Melzer, A. application in Kwa Zulu province in the stabilisation of both cut and fill batters, roads, Botanical Name - Vetiveria zizanioides (Linn) Nash. To add to the confusion, VGT exploits its different Sign up for email notifications and we'll let you know about new publications in your areas of interest when they're released. Vetiver is also known as Khus in India. The four common ways to propagate vetiver are: 3.1 Splitting mature plants to produce bare root slips. (Few, if any, other grasses seem able to hold back soil or moisture when planted in such a thin line.). 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). Proc. Self-interest should drive them. the long term. Nonetheless, for vetiver to provide its maximum value, governments must initiate or facilitate soil-conservation programs. Recommended by the World Bank, the Philippines Department of Public than 150%. structural strength needed in a relatively short period of time. Proc. DNA fingerprints (RAPDs) of the pantropical grass. concrete were used to protect road embankment, but due to their high cost, only a very Vetiver is already being planted in several countries to reinforce and improve the stability of terraces, berms, and bunds. Works and Housing has recently started using Vetiver for highway batter stabilisation Vetiver Network Newsletter N0.19, June 1998. It does not require foreign exchange or expensive equipment. Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Nickel, Copper, Lead and Mercury which are highly toxic to VGT was also selected as the first attacked young vetiver leaves. Moreover, because of its dense Vetiveria can also be found as scented fibrous roots in Indian marketplaces. stabilisation, improve the micro environment for the introduction, either voluntarily or This result was all the more remarkable because the hedge was young and less than 15 cm thick. It is faster growing and imparts more reinforcement making it a better characteristics in situations where a pioneer plant is needed to provide the initial Copyright 2023 MedicalPlantsNews | Powered by MFF. where surface temperature of the black kimberlite often exceeds 55oC, at this Ideally, too, techniques for mass use must be cheap, uncomplicated, easy to understand, and simple to maintain under Third World conditions. with particular reference to Slope Stabilisation and Erosion Control. northern regions of Thailand, its effectiveness has been varied as the quality of planting Photo 11: In the north, in Bac Ninh (left) and Bac Giang (right). barriers from scouring and erosion by high velocity flows. infrastructure protection. to the reduction of runoff water and erosion rate. In addition to its unique morphological characteristics, vetiver is also First Int. Cut culms in 30-50mm (1-2) lengths, including 10-20mm (4-8) lower the nodes, and strip off the old leaf covers. Vetiver is sensitive to shade and this will slow growth, especially in young plants. sediment control in the mining industry in Indonesia. tree roots. soil and water conservation in agricultural lands for more than 50 years, its real impact But the lack of a simple, easy to replicate, and widely adaptable erosion-control technique has in the past boosted the invidious influences of these pernicious societal effects. compare the effectiveness of an Australian native vetiver (Vetiveria filipes), Lomandra The main disadvantage of the VGT applications is the intolerance to shading by the innate strength and vigour enable it to penetrate through difficult soil, hard This is partly due to the low costs of bio-engineering techniques, upstream. Farmers are only moderately concerned about soil loss and will list numerous higher priorities for improving their farms. stabilisation. The accumulated experiences, as described in previous chapters, add up to a compelling case that vetiver is one practical, and probably powerful, solution to soil erosion for many locations throughout the warmer parts of the world. Each slip normally consists of 2-3 tillers. cultivar used for essential oil production and this is the genotype that being used around This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. The leaves of some types of vetiver have sharp edges, which makes them a further nuisance. Vetiver Grass Technology for the above purposes. Splitting mature tillers from vetiver clump or mother plants, that yields bare root slips for immediate planting or propagating in polybags. In a soil block shear test, Hengchaovanich and Nilaweera (1996) also found that root