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Vetiver System Ecotechnology for Water Quality Improvement and Environmental Enhancement

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Vetiver System Ecotechnology for Water Quality Improvement and Environmental Enhancement NEWS MEETING REPORT Vetiver system ecotechnology for water quality improvement and environmental enhancement Vetiver, Vetiveria zizanioides L. Nash, a highlighting that vetiver (i) is native to vetiver hedges to mark out farm bounda- native grass of India has traditionally hygro-environment such as wetland, ries in Karnataka (India), to the World been in use in India for contour protec- lagoon and bog, (ii) is extremely tolerant Bank-supported follow-up studies on tion and essential-oil production. Taking to drought as well as waterlogged/ grass biodiversity vis-à-vis its multifari- clues from its traditional usage in envi- submergence conditions, (iii) is effective ous applications in phyto-remediation, ronmental protection, The World Bank for soil and water conservation, and (iv) reclamation of mine dumps, and its abil- initiated several projects in India in is endowed with excellent biological ity to filter toxins before they enter the 1980s for systematic development of features to ameliorate wastewater and water-table. Vetiver Grass Technology (VGT), now pollution mitigation. The conference was In his opening lecture ‘Vetiver grass – popularly known as Vetiver System (VS). inaugurated by the Patron of The Vetiver a world technology and its impact on Large-scale developments have since Network, HRH Princess Maha Chakri water’ Richard G. Grimshaw (USA) des- taken place in the advancement of VS in Sirindhorn of Thailand, and was attended cribed how vetiver has developed as a environmental protection1; new avenues by over 230 delegates representing 28 world technology over four phases of have opened up over the past 15 years2. countries. There were 13 plenary presen- application: soil and water conservation The VS is emerging as a panacea to a tations covering eight sub-themes, and 46 in poor rural areas; infrastructure stabili- host of environmental problems. It is a oral presentations, including four King of zation; rehabilitation of difficult and low cost, extremely effective system that Thailand Vetiver Award presentations4. often polluted sites; and water quality offers proven solutions for soil and water Also, an exhibition on VS-based eco- enhancement and site rehabilitation in conservation, wastewater treatment, em- technologies and products in the form of relation to industry and intensive agricul- bankment stabilization, flood control, posters and demonstration stalls was ture. He admitted that introduction of disaster and pollution mitigation, agro- arranged at the conference site by vari- VS-based new technology was slow, but forestry management, and many other ous scientific agencies and entrepre- it has since made steady progress. environment-friendly applications being neurs. Further, the organizers had also Paul Truong (Australia) in his talk on used in over 100 countries3. The VS for arranged a one-day study tour for an on- ‘Vetiver system for water quality imp- wastewater treatment is a new and inno- site live demonstration of VS projects rovement’, dwelt upon the significance vative phyto-remedial eco-technology, ranging from applications of vetiver in of the VS in addressing the imminent which has the potential to meet all the garbage landfill site management, land global crisis of water shortage. Pinpoint- right criteria necessary for environmental slope stabilization and slope aforestation, ing the ability of vetiver grass to with- enhancement. It is a natural, green, sim- and water and vegetation rehabilitation at stand highly adverse climatic and edaphic ple, practicable and cost-effective solu- an ecological park. conditions, including elevated levels of tion, and its by-products offer a range of Sumit Tantivejkul, Secretary General, salt, acidity, alkalinity, sodicity as well uses in handicrafts, animal feed, fuel and Chaipattana Foundation, Bangkok in his as a whole range of heavy metals, and construction applications. Morphological keynote address on Thailand’s experience also its ability to absorb and tolerate and physiological attributes of vetiver with respect to vetiver and water, under- extreme levels of nutrients, he advocated grass, its strong, deep penetrating (Figure pinned the significance of vetiver grass that vetiver is ideally suited for treating 1 a), aerenchymatous (Figure 1 b) root for its deep penetrating root system that contaminated and polluted wastewater system, unusual ability to absorb and forms an underground wall barrier and from industries as well as domestic dis- tolerate extreme levels of nutrients, agro- helps to filter silt and maintain topsoil. charge. Highlighting morphological and chemicals and heavy metals make it an He stressed that exhaustive experimenta- physiological attributes of vetiver sup- ideal system for environmental enhance- tion on vetiver system covering over 30 ported with empirical observations, he ment through appropriate interventions initiatives by the Royal Development emphasized that the VS can help manage in the treatment regime. Study Centres has since been imple- wastewater quantity through seepage The 3rd International Conference on mented all over Thailand by the Gov- control, and its quality by trapping sedi- Vetiver and Exhibition (ICV-3), was orga- ernmental agencies for realization of bene- ments and particles, tolerating and absor- nized in Guangzhou, China during 6–9 fits of vetiver system in soil and water bing pollutants, heavy metals, and deto- October 2003 by the Guangdong Academy conservation, forest rehabilitation and xification and breakdown of industrial, of Agricultural Sciences, in association restoration of degraded soil, as well as mining and agrochemical residues, dur- with South China Institute of Botany environmental protection of water bodies ing land irrigation and under wetland (Chinese Academy of Sciences), South from effluent contamination and garbage conditions. Through another presenta- China Agricultural University and Guang- decomposition. John Greenfield (New tion he pointed out that vetiver, on ac- dong Association of Grass Industry and Zealand) giving a historical perspective count of its trapping/absorption capacity Environment. The theme of the confer- of ‘Advance of scientific research on of nutrients, sediments and agrochemi- ence ‘Vetiver and water’ was truly em- vetiver system’ traced the rediscovery of cals, can help stabilize otherwise fragile bodied in the conference deliberations, the versatile VS, from realization of drain banks made up of acid sulphate CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 86, NO. 1, 10 JANUARY 2004 11 NEWS a b c d e f h g i Figure 1. Eco-technological applications of the vetiver system. a, A 3.4 m long fibrous root system after 275 days of growth, from China, b, Transverse section of mature root showing schizogenous aerenchymatous cortex suitable for waterlogged condition and well-developed phloem for essential oil. c, Garbage landfill site in China covered with thick rubber sheet on top and earthen slope planted with vetiver for slope stabilization and leachate absorption. d, Slide-slope protection by vetiver along the railway line in Madagascar – proper drainage and suitable agroforestry for sustainable utilization of the vetiver system. e, Tea bushes grown between vetiver hedge rows in China to advance tea growth and tea quality. f and g, Restoration of water channel in the ecological park – contaminated wastewater channel (f) and ecologically restored water channel after vetiver plantation (g). h, Natural water ponds near Lucknow. (Below) With eutrophicated water having algal bloom. (Top) With vetiver purified water supported with green vegetation. i, Vetiver floating pontoons for wastewater treatment in a sewerage pond in Australia. 12 CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 86, NO. 1, 10 JANUARY 2004 NEWS soils highly loaded with heavy metals, wan Mahisarakul (Bangkok) showed that gesting that in addition to mechanical iron, aluminum and other metal concen- the vetiver root could grow luxuriantly characteristics, the root growth curve, trations, thus facilitating control of channel and tolerate contamination of agricultural three-dimensional root net, capacity to bank erosion. Cameron Smeal (Australia) residues, including endosulphan in the re-vegetate on slope are the important pointed out that treating effluents with garbage-fill site. Xuhui Kong (China) contributing factors in vetiver eco-engi- vetiver in industrial wastewater is actu- showed that vetiver–bamboo floats effi- neering anti-scour and anti-slide applica- ally a ‘recycling process’ and not a treat- ciently absorb heavy metals such as Zn, tions. Ping Zhang and Bo Huang (China), ment process per se, as in the process of Cu, Pb, Hg as well as nitrates from the through their independent studies, pro- ‘treatment’, the vetiver plant absorbs wastewater, thus helping the purification vided successful examples of quarry/ essential plant nutrients such as N, P and of eutrophicated water accumulated on karst stony slopes re-vegetation using cations, and stores them for other uses. pig farms. Based on wetland microcosm complex vetiver eco-engineering tech- In Australia, with large-scale planning test Xuerui Lin and Wensheng Shu (China), nique, where vetiver plantations could be this recycling plant is anticipated to pro- from their two independent studies, sug- established in mechanically designed plant- vide high nutrient material for animal gested that vetiver grass-constructed ing traps on quarry slopes. Surapol San- feed, mulch for gardens, manure for or- wetlands have a great potential in the guankaeo (Bangkok) provided an account ganic
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