VETIVER SYSTEM FOR AGROCHEMICAL POLLUTION CONTROL

Paul Truong, Frank Mason, David Waters and Rachael Cull, DNR&M, Queensland, Australia
The
The use
use of
of agrochemicals
agrochemicals including
including herbicides,
herbicides, pesticides
pesticides and
and fertilizers
fertilizers is
is essential
essential for
for maintaining
maintaining the
the productivity
productivity of
of many
many farming
farming systems,
systems,
but
but this
this practice,
practice, ifif not
not properly
properly managed,
managed, can can lead
lead to
to serious
serious off-site
off-site contamination
contamination of of the
the surrounding
surrounding environment.
environment. In In particular,
particular, residues
residues ofof
these
these chemicals
chemicals can
can adversely
adversely affect
affect flora
flora and
and fauna
fauna in
in downstream
downstream aquatic
aquatic ecosystems.
ecosystems.
Vetiver
Vetiver displays
displays several
several morphological
morphological and and physiological
physiological characteristics
characteristics that that make
make itit eminently
eminently suitable
suitable for
for use
use asas aa vegetative
vegetative filter
filter or
or
wetland
wetland plant
plant species.
species. .

PROBLEM

Vetiver used more water than other common wetland plants

such as Typha species, Phragmites australis and Schoenoplectus.
• Vetiver used approximately 7.5 times more water than Typha.
• Water use by vetiver grass was not affected by exposure to
Diuron or Atrazine
• Vetiver enhanced the removal and degradation of Atrazine
from the soil and water in the wetland system
• Diuron or Atrazine at concentrations up to 2000 mg/L, levels
which are likely to occur only in situations of accidental
spillage or direct application to waterways

HIGH NUTRIENT LOAD RESULTED IN EXCESSIVE FISH KILL BY PESTICIDE RUNOFF IN LOCAL STREAMS
WEED GROWTH ON WATER COURSE

SOLUTION
SOLUTION

Morphological and Physiological features suitable

for use as a vegetative buffer or wetland plant species:

Left: Vetiver planted across 1. Ability to tolerate flooded conditions makes vetiver very suitable
this waterway on a for use in ephemeral or permanent wetlands.
sugarcane farm in Australia
for erosion control and 2. Its dense stands of stiff, erect stems can reduce flow velocity,
sediment retention. Note the
large quantity of sediment
increase detention time and enhance deposition of sediment
trapped in one summer. and sediment-bound contaminants (e.g., heavy metals and
some pesticide residues).
Right: These 2 hedges
planted on this irrigation tail 3. Its deep, dense and finely structured root system can improve
drain on a cotton farm in
Australia trapped most of the
bed stability and nutrient uptake, and provide an environment
herbicides and pesticides as that stimulates microbiological processes in the rhizosphere.
shown below From this
4. Its sterility should minimise its potential for becoming an
aquatic weed.

Herbicide concentrations in sediment trapped up Pesticide concentrations in sediment trapped up and

and downstream of the two vetiver hedges. The
To this
downstream of 2 vetiver filter strips. This shows that
green bars indicate the positions of the 2 vetiver up to 88% of the pesticides in the runoff water was
rows in the waterway. At the second hedge, most of trapped by the hedges.
the herbicide was also trapped.