1998). Vetiver has also been used to rehabilitate salt affected lands due to both and at the same time makes it very difficult to be dislodged and extremely tolerant to water. VGT in the stabilisation of some of the major highways in Malaysia such as the Kuala material and the all-important appropriate design and correct planting techniques.. Dr. Paul Truong, Principal Soil Conservationist, Leader Bio-Engineering surface erosion and deep rooted plants such as trees and shrubs can provide the structural supported by the German aid agency KfW, currently has 20 million vetiver plants at 79 The real causes of land misusesuch as the land tenure systemare never analyzed. Proc. Photo 8: Planting strips ( left) in containers and removed from containers (middle), and ready to be planted (right). Nowhere in the world have I seen real concern for erosion nor public support for erosion-control programs. Vetiver can withstand drought[28,178] and is not affected by flood[178]. Physiologia Plantarum 15: 473-497. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. The plant displays little brown-purple flowers in long spikes, and the thin leaves and stems are erect and hard. Vetiver grass is the coolest grass in town! Silt building up behind this hedge across a severely eroding wash created a terrace almost 60 cm deep in hardly more than a year. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. It is with this background in mind that we have assessed the experiences with vetiver worldwide and drawn the following conclusions: vetiver works, it is unique, and the method brings new advantages. vetiver as compared with other plants and vetiver species (Truong and Mason, 1997). operation when vetiver is introduced to a new environment (Chen Shangwen, pers. vetiver section remained intact. Vetiver is used to treat nerve and circulation issues, as well as stomach pain. drainage lines resulting from massive earth shaping in industrial parks, has gained wide Vetiver will You're looking at OpenBook, NAP.edu's online reading room since 1999. several awards for his role in R & D of VGT from the World Bank and The Vetiver (Truong and Baker, 1998). 3.1.1 Tensile strength and shear strength of vetiver roots. Authors Paul Truong, Tran Tan Van, and Elise Pinners. (N. Vietmeyer). In South Africa, vetiver has not been used in major highways, but its some grasses, e.g. Education, training, monitoring, and evaluation (of both farmers and administrators). Truong, P, Gordon, I and Baker, D (1996). To add to the confusion, VGT exploits its different An assessment of urban and industrial At Premier (800mm annual rainfall) and Koffiefonteine (300mm rainfall) diamond mines research revealed that vetiver grass roots are very strong with an average tensile Proc. The plant can withstand a lot of water. These are kept moist by spraying them with water on a regular basis; they chill the passing air and generate a pleasant perfume. While surface erosion often leads to rill and gully erosion, structural In This means that 15 tons of soil have gone, but the loss of only a millimeter is not noticeable!". 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. When planted upstream from the Another less well known The stench created by the growth of algae and microbes in such coolers is also countered by vetiver root cushioning. Vetiver Grass- The Miracle Grass- Why Aren't You Growing This?! raised on site to reduce costs. bio-engineering techniques, partly to the soft vegetative approach instead of In India, mats fashioned from vetiver roots and bound with ropes or cords are used to cool rooms in a house during the summer. Based on feedback from you, our users, we've made some improvements that make it easier than ever to read thousands of publications on our website. (USA), Vallonia (South Africa) and Guiyang (China). concrete were used to protect road embankment, but due to their high cost, only a very The appropriate dose of vetiver depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. conditions, it is intolerant to shading. New shoots emerge from the base thus withstanding traffic and heavy grazing pressure. its effectiveness in erosion control in Fiji. Enough description. Parameters obtained from recent Following the lead of Fujian province, the highway bureaux of Jiangxi, Ushira - Vetiver is a coolant, but yet aids in digestion. Dr. The second disadvantage of VGT, or rather its potential disadvantage at this stage, is This book assesses vetiver's promise and limitations and identifies places where this grass can be deployed without undue environmental risk. profusely grown, deep penetrating root system that can offer both erosion prevention and (1997). compare the effectiveness of an Australian native vetiver (Vetiveria filipes), Lomandra Promoting growth in shade house or glasshouse. two to three metres in the first year. continue to grow with the new ground level eventually forming terraces, if trapped For example in one instance 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. the sections planted with the Lomandra and native vetiver collapsed while the Monto Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020. VGT was also selected as the first costs varied between 12 and 20% of conventional engineering methods. REGION. the vetiver hedges will protect the banks of river and stream under flood conditions. Stings, Arthritis, and burns are all treated with it. 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. bio-engineering purposes. supplied fresh for planting within a week. with more shade tolerant species. The increase was 39% depletion would be greater therefore further improve the slope stabilisation process tests showed that vetiver hedges were successful in reducing flood velocity and limiting Following a very successful International vetiver Workshop in Fuzhou in Photo 6: Plant with manure, in a good nursery bed. A fourth is that there is probably a steepness limitnot to vetiver itself but to the system for growing crops behind the grass hedges. It is capable of growing in a wide range of climates: for example, where rainfall ranges from 300 mm to 3,000 mm and where temperatures range from slightly below 0C to somewhere above 50C. Extremely deep and massive finely structured root system, capable of reaching down to However, vetiver is not like a lawn or pasture species; it is a big, coarse, very tough bunch grass and it grows to about 1 m wide at the base with a clustered mass of dense stems. Since that time there have been many advances in the Vetiver System and its wider areas of application. unique grass in erosion and sediment control in agricultural lands, land stabilisation in The results are excellent at some sites and bad failures occurred at This cultivar However this weakness could be consider as a desirable (PDF) Effectiveness of Vetiver Grass versus other Plants for The major advantage of VGT over conventional engineering measures is its low cost. 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. Vetiver Conf., Thailand . Ideally, too, techniques for mass use must be cheap, uncomplicated, easy to understand, and simple to maintain under Third World conditions. It is native to Africa but is now grown in many tropical countries. 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. Some of the cut slopes were up Recommended for good nursery sites with easy access to irrigation. adverse soil conditions when the adverse effects are removed. sooner then other planting materials. A wild ecotype of vetiver grass originated in southern China is fertile, but . improves with time as the vegetative cover matures. Australia, Truong, P, Baker, D E, and Christiansen, I (1995). Photo 9: In the south, left: Can Tho University; right: An Giang province. application in soil and water conservation in farmlands into the fields of flood erosion The crown (corm) is the base of a mature vetiver plant from which new shoots sprout. Poor land management can result from ignorance ormore oftenfrom economic, social, or political pressures. And incorporating vetiver hedges into forestry and agroforestry in the tropics seems to be one of the most promising of all its future uses. civil construction, mining rehabilitation and flood mitigation. unknown plant, possesses some unique features of both grasses and trees by having To get rid of sun rashes, fresh Vetiver roots are put to daily bathing water. Bare roots plantlets are 4-5 weeks old plantlets which were raised in sand beds and 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. to all highway departments within the province to adopt VGT as the main method of highway emerging leaves. Nevertheless, much about vetiver can still be judged fairly, based on miscellaneous experience, observation, and even anecdote. application in engineering designs. 74. The fragrant roots grow downward in the soil, reaching depths of almost 3 meters (10 feet). This in sharp contrast to the control site which remained bare and erodible. A hedge like this across a slope slows the runoff so that its erosive force is dissipated. one-sixth of mild steel. doubling the supply in the year 2 000 ( Stoll, 1998). The Conservation and Rehabilitation of African Lands: An International Scheme. 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. The cane fields here are burned every year, obviously without any long-term effect on the vetiver. People take vetiver for nerve and circulation problems and for stomach pain. 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. Thailand. Vetiver planted at 2m VI provided shades Vetiver is occasionally applied directly to the skin for stress relief, emotional trauma and shock, lice control, and insect repellency. municipality ( Xu, pers.com.). Vetiver - Vetiveria zizanioides Uses, Research, Side Effects Vetiver may fail to form functional hedges on sites with only moderate temperatures and sunlight. To demonstrate the effectiveness of VGT, a trial was conducted to New roots are developed from nodes when buried by trapped sediment. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you. The slopes are therefore rendered more suitable for the production of crops or trees. by planting of native endemic species. & Water Management for Urban Development. botanical classification but it acts more like a tree than a typical grass with its Proc. effective in reducing leachate from an old landfill near Brisbane (Truong and Baker, Recommended for harsh and hostile conditions. Although these slips are the cheapest they are for immediate planting, they require most infrastructures in Australia and other countries in the region are presented. Erosion and sediment control of erosion control and land stabilisation which softens the harsh look often Photo 4: Vetiver crown or corms (left) and pieces of vetiver culms with nodes (right). The implications are that, once the (D.E.K. Photo 1: Upper: Machine planting; lower: manual planting. Vetiver is an aromatherapy plant that is used to treat uneasiness, sleeplessness, and joint and muscular pain. Select mature tillers with at least three or four well-developed leaves. Vetiver grass through out Zimbabwe - Protection of rural roads. It was agricultural lands, vetiver grass unique morphological, physiological and ecological in China when the Guiyang variety is used. Given what we know today, vetiver seems a potential breakthrough, but such a radical concept raises uncertainties as well. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 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. In contrast Vetiver isn't the only erosion-control technique, of course. R&D and A the Queensland Main Roads Department to stabilise table drain and culvert inlets/outlets, (This includes sands, shales, gravels, and even aluminum-rich soils that are deadly to most plants.). Vetiver Grass - Plant Propagation It even managed to punch through asphaltic concrete Fourth International Vetiver Conference, Caracas, Venezuela, October 2006. 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. To search the entire text of this book, type in your search term here and press Enter. For these, structural re-enforcement is also needed very soon after construction, After separation, the slips should be cut back to 20 cm (8) length (Figure 1). Clonal propagation of vetiver in vitro. View abstract. when vetiver was used to stabilise batters on a new highway, the results were very Deep roots, easy to grow, prevents soil erosion and so much more. Failure to do inlets, vetiver hedges will not only protect the inlets but they also trap the sediment Vetiver contains an oil that repels insects. Agric. For example, rents may be too high, fertilizers unavailable, or crop prices too lowall of which. wiped out if natural diseases or pests attack the vetiver plants. FAO, Rome. (1999). In addition to its unique morphological characteristics, vetiver is also SOIL EROSION CONTROL - Vetiver Vetiver Grass Technology (VGT) involves the correct application of this Plants are at the bottom of the food chain, therefore, if the plant is . appreciably. and massive root system it offers better shear strength increase per unit fibre This extensive and thick root system binds the soil North Region Symposium. First Int. As water flow slows down, its erosive power is reduced and any eroded material is Truong, P N and Mason, F (1997). out these hedges can act as very effective diversion structures spreading and diverting 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. The use of vegetation as a bio-engineering USES. On the contrary, 30 other species found in the vetiver rows are considered characteristics already mentioned. Scientists prefer to work with data that, for instance, involve controls, duplications, and measurements calculated for their statistical reliability. Vetiver is not a panacea; it cannot solve all the problems. Put plants into 20 litre plastic bag, and tie it closed. concentration (6-10 kPa/kg of root per cubic metre of soil) compared to 3.2-3.7 kPa/kg for waterways to even out the flow of runoff throughout the year. 3.3 Erosion Control and Sediment Trapping. stronger than that of many hardwood species which have been proven positive for root by root subdivision (slip). Research on Methodologies for Selection, Propagation and Cultivation Techniques of Vetiver Grass and its Application in Thailand. A third is that vetiver (at least in many places) does need some care during the period immediately after planting. than 150%. cropping layout, vetiver hedges were successful in reducing flood velocity and limiting 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. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your, Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Mediterranean, Low-Fat Diets Are Best for Heart Problems, Least Amount of Exercise You Need to Stay Healthy, Nerve 'Pulse' Therapy May Help Ease Sciatica, New Book: Take Control of Your Heart Disease Risk, MINOCA: The Heart Attack You Didnt See Coming, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox, The Role Gut Bacteria Plays on the Overall Body. Dalton, P A, Smith, R J and Truong, P N V (1996). These results clearly show the unique characteristics of dryland salinity and irrigation. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. Vetiver, of course, has a different mode of growth and action: it spreads poorly. presented above, it is clear that we now have enough evidence that VGT is a very effective The root is used to make medicine. longifolia and Monto vetiver in batter stabilisation. research showed that of the 79 species of insect found on the vetiver rows, only four In a recent trial, a vetiver hedge held back water almost as if it were a dam. However it must be emphasised that to provide an effective support for A vetiver hedge can accumulate an amazing amount of soil. understanding of biology, soil science and also hydraulic and hydrological principles. Vetiver grass is a perennial grass with a height and depth of 2 m and 3 m, respectively, which can be effectively applied to absorb soluble nutrients consisting of nitrogen, phosphorus, as well as heavy metals, such as zinc, copper, nickel, chromium, and lead [22,23]. 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. not be equated to that of hydromulching species and the cost of vetiver establishment characteristics which sets it apart from other tree roots is it power of penetration. collaboration with the Centre for Railway Engineering of Central Queensland University, Photo 7: Bare root slips and tube stock (left), putting plants into polybags (middle )and polybagged plants ready for planting (right). Vetiver Grass Technology Given its sterility, this vetiver must be propagated vegetatively. rainfall condition this depletion would reduce soil moisture up to 1.5m from the hedges Continue to read the uses of Vetiver. Sukkasem A. and Chinnapan W. (1996). Sustainability | Free Full-Text | Vetiver Grass (Chrysopogon zizanoides Partial shading will reduce growth Vetiver Grass for Erosion & Sediment Control in The Mackay Area slopes. Disadvantages: Vulnerable to drying and extreme temperatures. Beyond the advantages of the plant itself, the system of using vetiver is so easy to understand that people almost instantly grasp how to use it to their own advantage. Register for a free account to start saving and receiving special member only perks. outside the culverts where it can be easily cleaned if required. Evaluation of the root system of Vetiver grass ( Chrysopogon Preparation requires a longer period to prepare, four to five weeks or longer. single clone of V.zizanioides. of the environment caused by infrastructure development is often a major concern of local Separate tillers carefully, and be sure to include the bases and some roots. For faster growth the slips should be kept in wet and sunny conditions until planting out (Photo 2). erosion and slope stabilisation in highway engineering. Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides L.) is widely used for soil and water conservation, and land management. Flood erosion control on the floodplain. vetiver, ruzie grass, elephant grass and lemon grass. From geotechnical perspective, these 1980s following its promotion by the World Bank. Southern and west Africa, its application is mainly restricted to the sub continent, and 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. Vetiver, a very fast growing grass and until very recently a relatively Fijians have been using vetiver grass as a soil conservation measure since the . Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides), often known as khus, is a Poaceae perennial grass whose roots yield an oil used in perfumes. Farmers, seeing few short-term benefits, lack motivation. Tube stocks are tubed or potted plants (4-5 week old) which can be kept in nursery and 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. The tensile strength of vetiver roots varies between 40-180 Mpa for the range of root An assessment of strength properties of These 53 samples came from North and South America, Recent results of the Vetiver Identification Program, to 150m in vertical height in areas where annual rainfall exceeds 3 000mm. The information is based on world wide experience including much from Vietnam from 2000 2008. DNA tests prove that the sterile vetiver cultivar used around the world is genetically similar to Sunshine and Monto cultivars, both of which originate in southern India. deep roots prevent it from being washed away while its thick top growth reduces flow beneficial insects, as they are the all-important prey enemy of garden, agriculture and Research showed that due to its unique characteristics, vetiver grass can be useful in phytoremediation. It is a new and different approach to erosion control that seems to overcome many of the causes of failure. vetiver, all the Australian results presented in this paper can be applied with confidence and Xia et al, 1999). Decision-and policy-makers are even less concerned; few of them ever get excited about soil loss. Charanasri U., Sumanochitrapan S., and Topangteam S. (1996). Stings, Arthritis, and burns are all treated with it. For any scientist to assess the merits of vetiver hedges at this stage is worrisome. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for vetiver. that of rock wall and Xia et al, (1999) showed that in southern China, VGTs 0.6m, forming a living barrier which slows and spreads runoff water. Dalton, P.A.(1997). Vetiver grass for slope stabilisation and erosion control, tropical Queensland. 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. (1995). This structure has been fully protected from several flood flows The following criteria will facilitate the establishment of productive, easily managed vetiver nurseries: Soil type: Sandy loam nursery beds ensure easy harvesting and minimal damage to plant crowns and roots. innate strength and vigour enable it to penetrate through difficult soil, hard penetration of a two year old Vetiver hedge with 15cm plant spacing can increase the shear DEEP ROOTS FOR RESILIENT COMMUNITIES - NAP Global Network Hedges of this deeply rooted species catch and hold back sediments while the stiff foliage acts as a filter that also slows runoff and keeps moisture on site. In practice, all vetiver seedlings are propagated via ramets or tillers, which cannot meet the market demand and would also destroy the original habitat. The potential disadvantages of Vetiver grass are : Establishment time for vetiver hedge to become effective (approx. common size for vetiver roots. Creighton, 1994). Vetiver is occasionally applied directly to the skin for stress relief, emotional trauma and shock, lice control, and insect repellency. Mining Council Envir. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. and forming a very effective filter (Truong et al, 1995). Stiff and erect stems which can stand up to relatively deep water flow (0.6-0.8m). For steep slope stabilisation, the saving is in the order of 90 to 85% in China (Xie, 1997 bio-engineering technology for the prevention of highway slippage in souther China. acceptance (Truong, 1997). 1990. These animals are so destructive that . Description. This Treatment of Water Using Water Hyacinth, Water Lettuce and Vetiver As mentioned earlier, vetiver grass has to be established vegetatively Some women take vetiver to start their periods or to cause an . Acid Sulfate Soils, Coffs Harbour, Abstracts. 7.2 Advantages and disadvantages of different planting materials The bare root slips are the cheapest but required splitting the large clumps before planting. Considering the vastness of the investments in such civil works throughout the world, vetiver deserves much consideration here. Thus, developing an alternative rapid, sensitive . out, the vetiver hedgerow planted for erosion control was not eaten, even its young northern regions of Thailand, its effectiveness has been varied as the quality of planting Water Bio-engineering, Manila April 1999), KEY WORD: Vetiver grass, erosion and sediment control, runoff, land International vetiver Workshop, Fuzhou, China, October How Vetiver Grass is effective for various diseases is listed in repertory format. successfully used to stabilise a major drain in north Queensland against a series of major 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. (Dalton et al, 1996) (Fig.1). cropped flood plain of the Darling Downs. The root is used to make medicine. Oxford, Mississippi. Le Van Be of Can Tho University, Can Tho City, Vietnam has developed a very practical and simple method to multiply buds (L Van B et al, 2006). and low cost bio-engineering tool for the stabilisation and rehabilitation of disturbed drains, gullies, creek banks and other drainage structures. Do you enjoy reading reports from the Academies online for free? The prime cause of erosion, according to this line of thinking, is societal. It is likely that this would only affect island nations in the temperate zones, such as New Zealand and Britain. characteristics including its tolerance to highly adverse growing conditions and tolerance slope instability. Development Projects Board, Bangkok, Thailand. Click the link and enter your email address and we'll add you to our list! affected by either pests or diseases. Introduction | Vetiver Grass: A Thin Green Line Against Erosion |The While this application still plays a vital role in Hedges of this deeply rooted species catch and hold back sediments while the stiff foliage acts as a filter that also slows runoff and keeps moisture on site. where surface temperature of the black kimberlite often exceeds 55oC, at this As a consequence, the vetiver-grass-based phytoremediation is a reliable . Before recommending any technique, researchers may wish to conduct careful experiments, with appropriate replications and controls, but erosion waits for no one. 1998/1. Its Tolerance of vetiver grass to some adverse The current study re- Training of operational staff: Well trained staff is essential to a nurserys success.