Vetiver for holding the earth

Introduction to Vetiver
Chrysopogon zizanioides, commonly known as vetiver is a perennial grass of the Poaceae family,

native to India. In western and northern India, it is popularly known as khus. Vetiver can grow up
to 1.5 metres high and form clumps as wide. The stems are tall and the leaves are long, thin, and
rather rigid; the flowers are brownish-purple. Unlike most grasses, which form horizontally
spreading, mat-like root systems, vetivers roots grow downward, 24 m in depth. 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). Though it originates in India, vetiver is
widely cultivated in the tropical regions of the world.
Characteristics
The characteristics of this plant are:

Long living
Grows up to 1.5 meters and root depth at 2-4 meters
Can survive in a wide range of temperature (-14 to above 55 Celsius)
Can survive in a wide range of soil pH (<3 (acidic) to > 10 (alkaline))
Can survive in dry or extremely wet lands (like KFR)
Tolerant to heavy metal chemicals from our constraction site will not kill the grass, plus this
grass is known to be able to purify such pollution.
Fire tolerant
Few pests and diseases
Does not attract snakes or mice.
The roots is very strong and deep. It has an average strength of 75 MPA (1/6 the strength of
steel)
It is non competitive and non invasive. Which means if it grows around a tree or plant. It wont kill
the plant, unlike wild grass.

Vetiver grass is known as an eco engineering technology that is low cost, easy and functional for
following:

Soil and water conservation

Infrastructure stability
Flood control
Improve water quality
Pollution control
Disaster mitigation
Land rehabilitation
Handicrafts
Removal of heavy metals from the land
Removal of nitrogen and phosphate from bodies of water
Treatment of wastewater

Uses
Some uses of Vetiver grass in Malaysia:

1. Along Karak Highway, vetiver groass is used at some points of this highway.
2. Palm oil plantation at Dhrama University near Bentong.

Interesting facts on Vetiver Application

The first serious work using vetiver for highway stabilization was in Malaysia, thereafter the
technique spread to other parts of the world, particularly Thailand (KB456),China, where vetiver
is used today to protect cut and fill slopes of roads and railroads.
Elsewhere it has revolutionized the protection of farm to market roads. In El Salvador 100% of
the vetiver protected roads survived intact the onslaught of Hurricane Mitch. The Vetiver System
has also been successfully used to stabilize river banks and canal and drain banks.
High content of phosphate and nitrogen are attributed to the production of algae in fish farms and
ponds, vetiver can absorb and reduce phosphate and Nitrogen to acceptable levels that reduces
algae production.