VETIVER NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER OF THE VETIVER NETWORK NUMBER 15 APRIL 1996

past), but also for its other News Line traits. Lest we forget, let me list 31 uses of vetiver:

Natural Resources The First International • On farm soil and water Vetiver Conference, conservation* • Ground water recharge* “Vetiver - A Miracle • Wasteland rehabilitation* • Gully control* Grass” • Drainage stabilization* • Wind erosion control* The Conference, hosted by the Govern- • Flood plain stabilization* ment of Thailand, The Chaipattana Foun- • Inhibitor to movement of dation, Ma Fah Luang Foundation, Office excess soil chemicals* of the Royal Development Projects Board, • River bank stabilization* and the Land Development Board was held • Permanent boundary at Chiang Rai from February 5 - 8 1996. It demarcation* was attended by about 300 persons, 100 Construction and Engineer- of which came from 40 countries. We ing learned much from each others experi- • Embankment and cut ences, (detailed in this newsletter) some stabilization* was confirmation and reinforcement of what • Construction site stabiliza- we knew already, and some was new. In tion* total we received confirmation that Vetiver • Mine dump stabilization grass is indeed a “miracle" grass — a and rehabilitation* miracle grass, not that it is the only grass Pollution control (there are other grasses that can be used • Tolerance to high levels of effectively under conditions not suitable for toxic metals* vetiver) for forming stiff grass barriers for • Inhibitor to toxic metal Vetiveria zizanioides. Water color by Anita Cooper soil and water conservation, but rather what movement+ is emerging is its potential range of uses • Municipal and industrial waste dump • Mushroom substrate* for biological engineering and economic stabilization* uses over a very wide area of eco-adapt- • Excess herbicide and pesticide clean * proven; + under investigation, early re- ability. This is likely to expand as new cul- up+ sults promising tivars are identified, and vetiver grass • Clean up of brackish water fishery breeders start selecting and improving the wastes+ It is little wonder that the farmers of north- grass not only for its aromatic oil (as in the • Waste water cleanup+ ern Nigeria, for generations, have called the Economic uses grass “Wonderful Grass”. • Mulch* • Livestock fodder* From our work with vetiver we find some • Crop yield enhancement* interesting pointers that government tech- • Compost* nical transfer systems are not working too SEE BACK PAGE • Aromatic oil* well. Too often the initiative of introducing FOR TABLE OF • Medicinal* new technology is not being properly ad- • Thatch* ministered, and seems often to be done CONTENTS • Fuel* better by NGOs. Even the latter need help. • Handicrafts* Extension and conservation staff are not • Natural herbicides and pesticides*+ properly trained, dissemination aids (books, • Paper manufacturing* slides, videos) are not available; and linked

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 1 to this, farmers are not properly trained in US Internal Revenue Service approval as we can start this project and I use the seed- use of technology nor are they involved a tax exempt organization under Code 501 lings to carry out small experimental plots enough with the planning and evaluation (c) (3). Thus for US citizens your contribu- for 4 - 5 years, I am sure, God willing, the of research and technology dissemination. tion is tax deductible. land of the people of “Kom” will be useful This not only applies to vetiver, but to many again. Are there people who are willing to other technologies as well, particularly A Call For Help from aid us? is it possible for the World Bank to those relating to long term natural re- give us a loan or give a grant for such a sources sustainability. It is also evident that The Land of the People project. I would be very happy to have an the success of land use policy will depend assistant from overseas who is willing to directly to a land users willingness to look of Kom come to aid me in this development project. after the long term needs of the land. There -- If at the conference in Thailand (4 -8 Feb. is a lot to do. 1996) you could announce that (FARDP) Cameroon, West Africa Family Association Rural Development Funding Support For Project needs funds, transport, and volun- For three years now the Network has been teers who can come to aid in the soil con- The Vetiver in regular correspondence with Mr. servation work in Bamenda (Kom) North Ngwainmbi Simon who works at the Medi- West Province of Cameroon I shall be very Network cal Centers of West Africa, Maroua, BP 382, happy...... ” Cameroon. He, with virtually no help, has The Vetiver Network needs your financial started vetiver programs with farmers. The We received this letter after the Thailand support to keep the Network alive and man is tested, he is committed to working conference. If you can, and are interested, strong. As you can see from the above list with vetiver to help his people reduce ero- please help. of potential uses there are many areas that sion. If any of you, particularly those that need information and support. There is a have operations in Cameroon, who read limit to what the Network can do, but in the this newsletter feel that you would like to Regional area of information collection and dissemi- support Ngwainmbi Simon please get in Networks nation of information about vetiver we can touch with him at the above address. I want do a lot. to share part of his most recent letter to Regional Networks are being established me: for Latin America and Europe: Currently, The Network has prepared a funding proposal, “The Vetiver Network “...... I learned a lot from your newsletters; The first formal network is now under es- Support Project”, which is being sent to po- I wish people could aid the project that I tablishment in Costa Rica and will serve tential donors around the world. The project want to start. In Bamenda it is all hills and Spanish speakers in Central and South consists of a request for funds for a three it is not easy for farmers. Rain water has America. It will be known as “The Latin year period: washed away all the top soil. The hills America Vetiver Network”. Detailed infor- (land) from which farmers used to have 10 mation is available in English and Span- • Establishment of at least five regional/ bags (400 kg) of maize can now can only ish. The Network will be managed and co- national networks. produce half to one bag (20 - 40 kg). This ordinated by Jim Smyle and his wife Joan • Start up support to NGOs to develop has resulted in some poor families having Miller. Jim was very instrumental in the pro- vetiver programs. to go 30 km in search of farms. The new duction of vetiver newsletters when he • Awards for good research. farms have again started producing less worked in Washington. He is also a direc- • Development of new technical videos. and less. This area is in trouble. Women tor of the Vetiver Network. • Revising and publishing “Vetiver will go out of their homes to stay out on Grass - A Hedge Against Erosion” their farms for one week, only to come Another formal network is under establish- • Printing and mailing of Vetiver News- home once a week to rest with the family. ment in Europe. It will be known as “Euro- letters This happens every year from March to pean Vetiver Network” (EVN). In coopera- • Administrative cost support for The June. Again from October to December tion with the Servizi Informatici Area di Network. during the harvest time. These same Milano of the Italian National Research women have to carry the maize 30 - 40 km Council, EVN provides the mirroring of the The total cost is estimated at US $500,000. to their homes — what a problem! Vetiver Network WWW pages at the URL: We hope to obtain most of the funds from www.siam.mi.cnr.it/Vetiver. European major donors, but we need support from I am sure that I have the answers to this users are invited to connect directly to the those users that can afford it, so if you think area, and that is Vetiver. I did try a section mirror. For further information please con- that the Network serves a useful purpose on the hill near the compound and it is do- tact the EVN coordinators Marco Troglia please help. If anyone needs a copy of the ing very well now. Again I have traveled to (E.mail: [email protected]) and funding proposal please let us know, and get Vetiver from this part of Cameroon Fulvio Naldi E.mail: [email protected]. The Network will send you a copy. (Maroua). It is more than 1,500 km from Bamenda, it takes two days and two nights Marco Troglia is managing a demonstra- The Vetiver Network has now been estab- to get from Maroua to Bamenda. My prob- tion project in Murcia (Spain) using the lished as a non profit charitable organiza- lem now is where to get a four wheel truck Vetiver grass for soil erosion control; the tion, with a board of 8 directors, and has to carry these seedlings to Bamenda. If project started in 1993, thanks to the finan-

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 2 cial contribution of the European Union, Joan Miller General Direction VI-Agriculture. Fulvio Coordinadora de la Red del Vetiver Letters to the Naldi is chief technologist at the Italian Apdo. 173-2020 National Research Council and works in the Centro Postal Zapote Editor field of networking and documentation. San José, Costa Rica Tel: 506 255 4011 ...... Many thanks for your mail. I am prima- Anyone interested in establishing a formal E.mail: [email protected] rily involved in research group of soil amoe- regional Vetiver Network please contact bae called cellular slime molds. They are The Vetiver Network. En anticipación de nuestro primer boletín, social also! Regarding Vetiver — I plan to querríamos solicitar apoyo en lo siguiente: use the extracts of vetiver & look for their Red Del Vetiver anti-fungal activity (primarily on plant patho- • Necesitamos articulos escritos por genic fungi). In my own home — we use Latinoamericana usuarios de vetiver en America Latina. Vetiver extensively for two purposes: to add Publicarámos cualquier información the gentle aroma of Vetiver in drinking wa- (Pidiendo perdón de todos aquellos que sea util. Y cuando sea posible, ter, we put dried roots in the water; and we quienes escriben español gramático) favor de incluir fotos. Les volveremos also use it along with Shikakai, the natural a todas fotografías si así pide. shampoo. A soap is also available with Receintemente hemos inaugarado la Red Vetiver aroma, called Moti. Latinoamericana De Vetiver, con el sede • Necesitamos desarrollar un base de ubicado en San José, Costa Rica. La red datos de usuarios quienes pueden With regard to technology adoption — será manejada por Jim Smyle y Joan Miller; proveer plantulas de vetiver a Whenever I chance upon farmers I urge Joan funcionará como coordinadora. El usuarios nuevos; sea en cantidades them to cultivate Vetiver as hedges. They objectivo principal de la red es servir y grandes o pequeñas. Favor de are bit reluctant at first, because it doesn’t informar a todos usuarios quienes hablan ayudarnos con éste por informarnos give any commercial value as other crops. español. Nuestra herramienta principal en caso que tiene acceso a vetiver. But if I explain with photographs, they are realizar este objetivo será un boletín escrito taking initiatives. en español. El boletín permitirá a usuarios • Y quizas ustedes han dado cuenta e investigadores de tecnología vetiver que nuestras habilidades de escribir Now the source — Many of the farmers feel compartir sus conocimientos y en español son algo debiles. Por that it is not available freely — which is true. experiencias con los demas en America consiguiente, si querría ofrecer su The agriculture department here doesn’t Latina y para ampliar el uso adecuado de tiempo ayudar redacta nuestro give much importance to Vetiver. Moreover vetiver para la conservación de suelos, material, favor de contactarnos. the farmer has a concern that there will be aguas y infraestructura rural. lot of snakes. So some of the farmers try to remove Vetiver rather than cultivate Por difundir información y ejemplos (exitos them. Another interesting aspect which I y fracasos) de la tecnología vetiver en The Vetiver Network plan to embark on is — whether Vetiver latinoamericano, tanto como el resto del competes for resources with other plants - mundo, esperamos educar a usuarios y Homepage on the especially with weeds (Parthenium etc.). usuarios potenticiales de vetiver sobre el Internet R.Baskar, Karnataka, India mundo de posibilidades que existen para E.mail: su aplicación. Además esperamos a que The Homepage is up and running. It pub- [email protected] la red servirá aumentar participación y lishes most of the information that we re- número de miembros en la red del vetiver ceive from you from time to time. You can *** mundial. El Vetiver Boletín; será gratis a find it at http://www.vetiver.com todos aquellos quienes quieren recibirlo. I read the Vetiver Newsletter in our library. Tambien, la red servirá como un centro I am assigned as program field coordina- para todos que necesitan información in- tor of our institute. Our farmers have been dividual sobre el uso y aplicación de la Change of Address planting vetiver grass (locally named Mura) tecnología de vetiver. Y caso-por-caso, since 1991 when our soil and water con- proveeremos asimismo información sobre Because of the large number of people servation project started. otras tecnologías y sistemas innovadores living in Northern Virginia the Post Of- para el manejo de recursos naturales bajo fice will on July 1 1996 change the Zip I am interested to have my own copy of the uso o apropriado para uso en America code of The Vetiver Network from 22075 Vetiver book and the Technical Publication Latina. to 20176. “Vetiver Grass for Soil and Water Conser- vation, Land Rehabilitation and Embank- La Red Del Vetiver Latinoamericana esta Mailing address: ment Stabilization”. Also, I am applying to planificando publicar su primer boletín por be a member of the Network. We are now los principios de 1996. Si se quiere recibir The Vetiver Network, on the process of getting farmers’ testimo- una copia o comunicar con la red, nuestra 15 Wirt Street NW, nies of the benefits of using vetiver in con- dirección es: Leesburg, trolling soil erosion. We have trained about Virginia 20176 USA 200 farmers in SWC with Mura as the foun-

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 3 dation hedgerow. I have a plan to produce was started in the early 1950’s by a Chi- seabuckthorn is much more intrusive than a simple brochure in Cebuano dialect about nese (Taiwanese?) family named vetiver as it sends up shoots from the roots Vetiver and some of the testimonies of our “Wachong”. They planted all the roadsides after about four years. For the Chinese this farmers. Can you give me advice for pos- with vetiver to stabilize them (we have pic- is great as they can cover huge tracts of sible source of funds. I need about US tures of the 30 plus year old roadsides), land this way. Especially steep mountain $1,000 for the project. Thank you very but nothing in the coffee. They even slopes. We have a video made for ICIMOD much and more power. planted the coffee up & down slope! When in Nepal. If you would like a copy please Edwin A. Balbarino, Farmi-Visca, Baybay, the Swiss bought it, the consultants they let me know and I will send one to you. Leyte 6521-A, Philippines hired to do the initial planning recom- Susan McLoughlin. E.mail: Email: v+visca@ sat.vitanet.org mended getting rid of the vetiver on the [email protected] roadsides as “it served no purpose and If anybody with an interest in the Philippines took up space”. However, the fellow (I have worked with seabuckthorn in China. would like to help Edwin publish a book on charged with managing the fields had, in It is very good for wasteland rehabilitation, vetiver in the local dialect please get in about 1988 or 1989, received one of the and is particularly useful in climates that touch with him. I can vouch for Farmi-Visca, green books on vetiver while working with are too cold and too dry for vetiver. If you your money won’t be wasted, and we will the government’s Agricultural Develop- want more information contact...Ed) get some interesting results for all to share. ment Institute; he also said that he had Ed. heard about vetiver in some soil conser- *** *** vation courses. So he decided to use the Yesterday we returned from a four day trip, roadside plantings to begin establishing A consistent problem for us V.Es. (Vetiver- locating vetiver for the Panama project. We hedges in the plantations. Five years later Enthusiasts) is the poor performance of found some very interesting stuff (as well it looks good, the rehabilitated coffee is on most varieties of Vetiver under shade. Even as the planting material). The best of it is the contour, the hedges are well-planted, under the partial shade of coconuts and at a coffee finca (farm) (Rio Negro) that is dense and thriving, and well-maintained. rubber, Vetiver planted with great care owned by a Swiss company and operated It never ceases to amaze me how well the gradually dies out; and this is a severe con- by Costa Ricans. Since they purchased word on vetiver has spread. straint as it is often that these plantation the finca and its 200 ha of coffee five years Jim Smyle E.mail: crops are grown on slopes which need pro- ago, they have rehabilitated 60 ha and pro- [email protected] tection of the soil below them. tected them with vetiver hedges associated with drainage canals (they are in a 3,800 *** Another instance of Vetiver dying out un- mm rainfall zone). The story of how they I am delighted to hear that vetiver will soon der shade occurs when it is planted to pro- got on to the vetiver is interesting. The finca be on the internet. I came across a terrific tect road banks, and then shade trees de- site, The International Arid Lands velop overhead. Consortium — I don’t know if you are familiar with them. They are I feel sure that amongst the many varieties a jumping off point for all sites to of Vetiver, there must be some which have do with arid lands and land re- adapted to growth under shade, and I won- sources. Fantastic! They are ac- der whether there is any source of research tively seeking sites to connect information to which we may go for guid- with them so it would be a great ance towards such shade-tolerant variet- place to register the vetiver site. ies. Have these various varieties of Ve- The address is: http:// tiver been classified (perhaps numbered) ag.arizona.edu/OALS/IALC/ according to their particular characteristics Home.html (I have checked this and adaptabilites? If not.... here is a VERY site, it’s good, and I have regis- urgent area for research. tered our home page with them...Ed) You may recall that interest in Leucaena was for many years mainly emotional.... I will certainly send you an up- enthusiasm without much REAL research date of our activities with backing. Then a pest appeared (Psyllid) seabuckthorn. It is an extremely which wiped out much of the Leucaena in exciting plant and there is as the world. It was then found that certain much activity around it as with Leucaena trees were resistant and from this vetiver. Colin will be attending a arose very extensive research into the char- conference in Beijing in Decem- acteristics of the various varieties of Photo 1: Vetiver hedges used on coffee just farm ber on seabuckthorn. The Chi- Leucaena, and interest in Leucaena re- in Panama, adjacent to the area Jim Smyle writes nese have over 100,000 hectares vived. about in Costa Rica. In this instance the hedge is of badly eroded lands planted to two years old and is protecting the interface of a seabuckthorn now, and are pro- I shall appreciate your own views on this field and road. ducing over 200 products from proposal.... or must we wait for a pest? Photo credit: Dick Grimshaw the berries. However, Ray Wijewardene DSc.

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 4 Tel: Colombo (94-1) 421881 formation. comes from, and any unusual characteris- tics, such as shade tolerance and send it Has any reader got any ideas for Ray re- I must say that all this is most encourag- to him at: Dr. R.P. Adams, Plant Biotech- garding shade tolerance. I know that in ing and with the rainy season about to start nology Center, Baylor University, Box Karnataka, India, some cultivars are know we hope there will be more vetiver planted 669, Gruver, Texas 79040 USA. With for being “forest types”. In Panama and and more soil saved! Water situation, at regard to US customs, you should put a Guatemala vetiver hedges grow well un- present in the country generally, and more label on the envelope with the words “Dried der light coffee plantation shade. If any- particularly in the Lowveld is critical.....I Botanical Specimen (Genus Vetiveria) for one can help Ray, please get in touch with often receive letters from Agritex person- destructive testing. Phytosanitary Permit/ him. Bob Adams will be undertaking DNA nel requesting information to help them Quarantine Not required. Please classification of vetiver, this should be a study the value of vetiver. In fact I am run- expedite”..ED start, but much more needs to be done. ning out of the little green booklets fast ...... Mark Dafforn is trying to coordinate some Jano Labat, Chiware Holdings Pvt Ltd. *** of this work for the Network. If anyone P.O. Box 14, Chiredzi, Zimbabwe. wants to help Mark please get in touch with For about three years now I have been in- him at: [email protected] ...Ed *** terested in Vetiver as a means of protec- tion against erosion in a mountainous re- *** I just got the vetivers from Panama and gion of Colombia, S.A. I first obtained ma- Costa Rica! I’ll stick them in the freezer. terial from CIAT (Cali, Colombia) and I am pleased to say that at long last Vetiver They look fine for DNA extraction. It will be planted the slips on rich fertile soil. The is gaining the approval of more and more about April before I have a student to start. percentage of survival was fairly high, con- people around us here in Zimbabwe. Hopefully I will have lots of samples by then. sidering that the farm where planting was carried out, is located on a plateau (Sabana As a consequence of the two workshops I I have Vetiver newsletter #14 and note that de Bogota) 2,630 meters above sea level, held on the farm with section managers of on p. 28 (Vetiver Oil Extraction) is by an with a mean annual temperature of 15˚C in the large Hippo Valley Sugar Estates (Tri- unknown author. The article was copied the Andes mountain range of Colombia. angle) management has embarked on a from “The Essential Oils, Vol IV” by Ernest major exercise in accordance with the Guenther, pp. 156-180. Robert E. Kneger Development of the plants was relatively Anglo American Corporation Zimbabwe En- Publ. Co. NY (1977 reprint from 1950 origi- slow, due to climatic conditions - l presume vironmental Management Code of Practice. nal edition book by Litton Educational Pub., - but after 1 year the leaves had a length of They have planted out Vetiver grass along Inc.). The technical specifications on oil about 3 feet, and clusters were increasing 191 km of rivers and drains with a further density, etc. were omitted, but otherwise the in size at an appreciable rate. The leaves, 122 km identified for future planting. article is a word for word copy of the origi- by the way, turned a reddish color from the nal. Your article ends on page 179 (of the middle up to the tips. Is this caused by Furthermore they have embarked on what book). The last page of the treatment of ambient temperature? (probably cold win- is known as the “Magudu Vetiver Outreach Vetiver by Guenther is p. 180 and contains ter temperatures ....Ed) Project” involving the local Chief, the Dis- two paragraphs on “Use of Vetiver Oil”. You trict Administrator, and Agritex (Government should probably note this source in another After two years I started using this material extension and research service) officials. newsletter (else you might be sued for to plant it in a region of different soil and In February 1,400 meters of vetiver was copyright infringement). There were sev- climatic conditions (clay soils, altitude of planted, and watered by local people car- eral very useful bits of info. in newsletter 1,000 meters above sea level, temperature rying 20 litre tins of water from the nearby #14. of 26˚ C). Two and three slips per site were dam. The grass in fact started catching the Bob Adams planted under different local conditions, top soil when heavy rains fell shortly after- E.mail: [email protected] (some were planted under shady conditions wards. Once again the primary objective in a coffee plantation while others were of this exercise is to teach the communal Thanks Bob, readers please note the planted on the bank of a water reservoir). farmers to conserve soil, and to see the source of the article that he refers to. Bob Slip survival was somewhere around 70% many other advantages of vetiver i.e. needs all of you who can and are interested but after about 5 months, growth is rather thatching, mulch etc. to send in a few small leaf pieces (10-15 slow (may be a shade problem....Ed); the cm long) of your locally grown vetiver for plants do not show a vigorous develop- On the 28th October a Zimbabwe Sugar his DNA vetiver classification work. This ment, as you would expect under the new Symposium was held at Triangle, and I was work should result in a clearer picture of climatic conditions (rains started after plant- invited to give a presentation on vetiver. I which vetivers are related, seediness of ing); they are thin single or double leaf gave a short talk accompanied by a slide vetiver, and any other traits, such as shade shoots with no tillering showing. It is im- show on the grass itself, its uses on sugar- tolerance, winter hardiness etc. He will portant to mention that at planting the slips cane farms, dam walls, and drains. It was share his results with you all through the were put into a mixture of black soil, water well received by most of the 193 delegates Network. All you have to do is to dry the and 15:15:15 fertilizer. Some of the plants some of which came from Malawi and piece of leaf in the shade or deep freeze it located on the banks of the water reservoir Swaziland. There were also representa- for a couple of days, so as to kill the leaf have flowered; this never happened at the tives from a major local chemical company quickly (without rotting). Put it in an enve- higher altitude farm where these plants who sought me afterwards for additional in- lope together with information of where it came from. The flowered plants do show a

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 5 somewhat better growth than the others, but they still seem weaker than the mother plants. I will be testing the seeds for fertil- ity. My next step is to plant some of the materials in polybags to be transplanted at a later date in the field. Hernando Gutierrez De La Roche - Ph.D. Carrera 20 # 86a - 16 Apt. 301 Santafe De Bogota, Colombia S.A.

***

I am regularly receiving your Vetiver News- letter and find it a very useful publication. The place where I am located is situated between 20˚ 15' and 21˚ 23' N latitude while 70˚ 33' and 74˚ 23' E longitude with the el- evation ranging from sea level to 800 m. This region is characterized by heavy rain- fall (1,500 to 2,500 mm), moderately cool winters and hot summers. A huge area in this region has been subjected to soil ero- sion due to deforestation, faulty tillage prac- tices, heavy rainfall and unavailability of ap- propriate soil conservation technology. Photo 2: China. Guangdong Province. A slipping highway cut just planted to When I got your first newsletter, that was vetiver. about 2 years ago, I contacted Gujarat Land Photo credit: Xia Hanping Development Corporation, which is han- dling the watershed management projects (Mr. Ahlawat has subsequently written to 1995. This means that I am closely work- and obtained 5 seedlings of vetiver from say that his research has been funded, he ing with the two vetiver promoters, Alemu them. I multiplied them to initiate the fol- is also interested in testing out vetiver for and Habtamu. I have personally witnessed lowing two experiments: flood plain conservation...Ed) that vetiver is really a “miracle grass” against soil erosion. The methods that we • spacing requirement of vetiver for *** use to promote vetiver among the farmers obtaining maximum number of tillers; I was very glad that one of our staff mem- is simple extension approach. and bers, Mr. Habtamu Wubshet, was invited • optimization of contour width using to attend the International Conference on Alemu, Habtamu and myself are of opin- vetiver on lands having 5% slope. Vetiver grass : “Vetiver: The Miracle Grass” ion that from the experiences of MfM, it held in Thailand from February 5 - 8 1996. would be possible to aggressively promote The first experiment is in second year while He is one of the promoters of vetiver grass vetiver throughout Illubabor Administrative the second experiment has completed just among the peasant farmers as a major Zone, where our project is operating. How- one season. I am also thinking of initiating means of biological soil conservation. His ever, as a small NGO, MfM is limited to its another experiment. The details of which immediate boss is of course Mr. Alemu own concentration areas (project areas) would be communicated to you in my next Mekonnen, Head of our Agro-Ecology De- and can’t support the extension services letter. velopment Department. Mr. Habtamu, al- of Illubabor Agricultural Development De- though very busy this time of the year in partment, the service responsible for ex- Meanwhile we have taken up a multiplica- preparing terraces, etc. is preparing to brief tension services in the Zone. Is it possible tion program to distribute the seedlings to us about the conference. In the mean time for the latter to get financial, material and the farmers, as many of the farmers of this our GM after seeing the Thai experiences technical support if they prepared a project area have shown interest. Few of them has instructed me and the Women’s De- promoting vetiver for the control of soil ero- have already got 10 to 15 seedlings each partment + Mr. Alemu to see if vetiver sion? As far sharing experiences is con- from our farm for further multiplication. I leaves and roots can be used for small cerned, MfM is willing in all respects. (an- am intending to involve some non-govern- handicrafts like baskets, hats, etc. It would other challenge, any aid agency interested ment organizations for further multiplication be helpful if we got the experiences of other in working in Illubabor, Ethiopia??....MfM programs to meet the farmers’ need of their countries through Vetiver Network or you has done a top class job on their project area. I will use this opportunity to explore personally. (if anyone can pass some ideas ..... Ed) if you know of any agency which is financ- to MfM please write direct... Ed). Debela Dinka, MfM, P.O. Box 120372, ing research projects on vetiver. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia R.P.S Ahlawat University Office: Well coming to myself, I was employed by Sardarkrushinagar.385506 Banaskantha Menschen fur Menschen Foundation as a *** District, Maharashtra, India, Deputy GM of Illubabor Projects as of July Thank you for your letter of May 5. We have

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 6 of those who attended. The recommenda- tion for the Second International Confer- ence to be held in South Africa in the year 2000 was a recommendation of a special conference committee (the one and only committee established under the Chair- manship of Mr. Narong of FAO)

Preamble.

1. The conference recognizes the extraor- dinary leadership of His Majesty The King of Thailand in His Vetiver Grass Initiative and to the agencies that responded to His Initiative on June 21 1991 . This initiative comprising research, field testing and dem- onstration impacted on a wide range of ap- plications covering soil and water conser- vation, road and pond stabilization, pollu- tion control, and handicrafts in the Kingdom of Thailand. Photo 3: China. Guangdong Province. A slipping highway cut fully stabilized 6 months after planting vetiver grass 2. The initiative that was primarily a Re- Photo credit: Xia Hanping search and Development Program carried out by Chaipattana Foundation, Ma Fah made new progress in our vetiver projects are willing to continue cooperating in next Luang Foundation, Office of the Royal De- this year. Do you still remember what I said years. Because of a great scarcity of funds, velopment Projects Board, and the Land - the local road and railway departments however, we feel quite difficult in enlarging Development Board in conjunction with are not willing to accept the practice of the trial’s scale. We are looking for re- other various government departments has planting vetiver along the both sides of high- source of funds. Of course, we wish you over a period of five years developed and ways and railways - in my letter of March and Vetiver Network could aid our this identified techniques in the application of 5th to you? However we never lose heart. project financially. Thank you very much! the vetiver grass hedge technology (VGHT) Later, my colleagues and I took a lot of ma- Xia Hanping South China Institute of and has confirmed that VGHT involving the terial on vetiver, especially those you sent Botany, Academia Sinica, Guanzhou, unique grass - Vetiveria zizanioides - has to me, to the Guangdong Provincial High- China a very wide application throughout the trop- way Administrative Bureau (GPHAB) again ics, and semi tropics for low cost soil and and again, and related and showed the ex- (another very good research group doing moisture conservation, and for other bio- cellent effects of vetiver on controlling ero- practical research and testing of vetiver. logical engineering purposes including land sion and landslide, to the leaders and staff Any funding support to this group will give rehabilitation and stabilization, flood con- members of GPHAB. Constant effort yields excellent returns and will have a wide range trol, and for remediation of a range of pol- sure success. At last, we convinced them, of applications. Ed) lution related problems. and started to collaborate with the Bureau. The two photos are just from one of 4 sites 3. The conference recognizes the efforts GPHAB offered us for carrying out the tri- Thailand and contributions made by individual user, als. Photo 2 is the background, and the scientists, and government and non gov- part exterior after vetiver being just planted First International ernment agencies in over 100 countries in (May 4 - 5th). Note the severe landslip, their contribution to the development and almost total exposition, and piling silt on the Vetiver extension of new knowledge and informa- road. We made the second observation to tion relating to VGHT. the experimental sites on September 19. Conference It is very clear from the photo 3 that vetiver Technical application has formed dense lines and almost com- “Vetiver: A Miracle pletely controlled the erosion in only four 4. In summary VGHT has some very clear and a half months! Note among the lines Grass” uses and advantages for the stabilization there have been overgrown with some Draft Conference of the world’s land and water resources that “weeds”, one of which is mostly Isachne are located primarily between latitudes 30 indicum. It indicates that “weeds” can grow Resolution degrees north and south of the equator. The once a sliding slope is held up. Obviously, technology is user friendly, low cost, and these “weeds” are very helpful to control This draft was prepared by the Vetiver Net- has wide adaptability over a range of eco- erosion. Currently, both sides express sat- work and left with the organizers of the logical conditions. The conference con- isfaction with the experimental result, and Conference. It reflects the general views firms that nowhere is the grass seen as an

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 7 invasive weed, even in its natural habitat VGHT. Other Asian, African and Latin assure effective transfer of the technology (wet lands). American countries could well use this ap- to users, and to put them into place. In all proach for the introduction of this low cost cases the end user must be involved in the 5. VGHT when applied correctly has technology, as an important environmen- planning process and should receive ad- proven to: tal measure for the stabilization of agricul- equate support and training to allow such tural lands that would result, in conjunction strategies to be properly executed. Greater • reduce the movement and loss of soil with other management practices, in im- use should be made of public news media, from lands protected with vetiver grass proved incomes of the rural poor, and in handbooks, audio visuals etc. hedgerows; reducing the pressure on adjacent forest lands where relevant. VGHT should be 11. The conference urges land develop- • significantly reduce rainfall runoff used more often in watershed conserva- ment planners, executing agencies and losses, with the consequent positive tion for improving ground water recharge engineering consultants to initiate programs impact on improved soil moisture and the resultant positive impact on rural that include VGHT technology. In particu- content and ground water recharge; water supplies. It was noted that VGHT lar to provide funds for technology transfer has potential as a measure to reduce sedi- and research, and for the initial production • recycle plant nutrients; ment flows that would normally be detri- of plant material for distribution to users. mental to the life of reservoirs and to the • under conditions of water stress has good health of coastal reefs and fisheries. 12. The conference supports the need to generally resulted in significant crop expand the free transfer of information by yield increases; 8. The conference recommends that ef- continued support for The Vetiver Network forts are intensified to use VGHT for stabi- and for the establishment of independent • provide for a low cost and effective lization of engineered works, phyto-reme- regional and or national networks. At this means for stabilizing earth fill and cuts dial uses, and for biomass production. time it is recommended that networks are in relation to roads, drainage and established for the Pacific rim, for south irrigation works; 9. The conference urges that funding for Asia, for west and southern Africa, and for research and technology transfer be im- Latin America and Europe. These net- • stabilize and rehabilitate mining sites; proved. In particular, research and testing works, to be effective, should retain close efforts should be intensified in: ties, should be operated at minimum cost, • stabilize river and pond banks; and should cater to potential participants • the identification of the different vetiver without hindrance or bias. • tolerate heavy metals and other toxic species and cultivars in the world, minerals and chemicals at higher their relations to one another, and their 13. The conference urges governments levels than most other plants, and thus different physiology and potential and agencies to provide small grants to has potential in the prevention and uses; bonefide non government agencies for start clean up of polluted sites that might up VGHT programs. In addition the con- include municipal waste dumps, mine • the efficient propagation and handling ference recommends that international and dumps etc.; and methods for the rapid multiplication of bilateral agencies that are already helping vetiver grass; to promote the technology should continue, • have important byproducts including: but on an accelerated time frame. thatch, fodder, mulch, aromatic oil • the development of different architec- production, medicinal products, fuel, ture required for various bioengineer- 14. The conference believes that VGHT and as a material for handicrafts. ing; will, in the 21st century, become a major biological technology for the mitigation of 6. The above uses and applications have • the field management practices of a wide range of environmental problems. been confirmed by research and practice vetiver grass hedgerows to assure To this end: (a) research and testing pro- in Thailand and in other countries in Asia, long term maintenance at minimum grams should be accelerated, and (b) the Africa, and Latin America over the past 10 cost; Second International Vetiver Conference years. should be held in South Africa in the year • phytoremediation practices that could 2,000. Future Directions and Applications be used for environmental mitigation of problems relating to pollution; and 7. The Conference endorses the use of vetiver grass for such purposes as outlined • the selection and development of above, and recommends that individuals, appropriate vetiver cultivars for fodder private agencies, governments and inter- and other biomass purposes, and for national agencies extend the use of vetiver the use of handicrafts and other grass on a wider basis and accelerated time potential uses. frame. The conference noted the inte- grated and well coordinated efforts of Thai 10. In Thailand and in other countries that agencies in the development of a strategic are currently using VGHT there is a need approach to resource conservation using to think through appropriate measures to

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 8 Vitat Tachaboon. Hill-tribe Welfare Division, Studying the relationship between the in- Abstracts Of Selected Public Welfare Department, Thailand. formation transferred from various sources and the reasons to participate in Vetiver cul- Research Papers The objective of this study is to investigate tivation showed that the farmers who re- Presented At The the adoption behavior and the cultivation ceived the information from the other of Vetiver by farmers in the highlands by sources that were not persons or that were Conference collecting data from the areas under the not involved with persons had a smaller responsibility of the Hill Tribe Development proportion of land use between the Vetiver Centers, covering 14 provinces with a sam- row than the ones who received from the SOCIO-ECONOMIC pling of 1,433 farmers. persons knowing vetiver. It was also found ASPECTS that the farmers who participate in the Ve- It was found that 401 farmers or 27.98 per- tiver project concerning erosion control had cent of the sampled farmers had grown a higher proportion of land use under Ve- Status Of Vetiver Grass In Upland Farm- Vetiver since 1992, which occupied 35.45 tiver than those who joined the project for ing Development In Indonesia (Contra- percent of the holding areas of the Vetiver other reasons. diction Between Soil Conservation And growing farmers. There were 18.70 per- Farmers’ Utility Orientation) cent of Vetiver growing farmers planning Agus Hermawan. Institute for the Assess- to grow more Vetiver in 1995. Environment And Socio-Economic Val- ment of Agricultural Technology Agency for ues Of Vetiver; A Miracle Grass. Agricultural Research and Development As for the reasons to participate in the Ve- MD. Faziul Huq. Proshika 1/1 -9A, Sec- (IAAT-AARD), Indonesia. tiver growing project, 74.81 percent of farm- tion -2, Mirpur-2, Dhaka- 1216, Bangladesh ers claimed that the reason was from the There are two kinds of soil conservation introduction of the project officials, there Vetiver is a familiar grass growing on the techniques developed by Farming Systems were 14.96 per cent wished to replace other flood plain soil of Bangladesh. It is com- Research (FSR) component of Agency for alley crops, 66.58 percent to reduce soil monly grown as a fodder in the rural areas. Agricultural Research and Development erosion, 47.88 per cent to improve soil fer- In the rural condition, this grass has high (AARD) of Indonesia, i.e. mechanical and tility and 17.95 per cent wish to keep using economic value. Vetiver is a fast growing vegetative. Vegetative soil conservation in- their land forever. Besides, there were species of indigenous fodder. The plants cludes cropping pattern arrangement, tree 30.17 percent of farmers who joined the become 2-3 feet high with leaves and soft plantation, grasses and legumes as ter- Vetiver growing project in order to obtain body. The leaves and stems are soft and races strengthen on strips and alley crop- land ownership or land rights. palatable to the animals. T he marshy and ping systems. In that case, vetiver as grass wet land is favorable for vetiver cultivation. barrier could control run off and decrease Studying the use of land between the Ve- The small scale dairy and livestock farmer ‘CP’ factor and land erodability lower than tiver rows revealed that most farmers were cultivate this grass in their limited agricul- control plot, as well as increase organic using every field every year. For the use tural land in between two principal crops. matter on soil. On alley system, vetiver of Vetiver, 45.14 percent of Vetiver grow- Sometimes Vetiver is cultivated as a relay could control erosion to 13.21 and 0.56 ton ing farmers made use of it, commonly used crop. The vetiver has high nutritive value at second and third years respectively (on for feeding animals. Besides, 33.67 per- for Dairy cattle and Beef fattening animals. the average erosion on control plot was cent of growers also introduced Vetiver The goat and sheep herders also use the 120.08 ton/year), while height of ridge soil growing to the other persons, mainly their fodder as a popular forage. The animals at third year was 29.7 cm lower than neighbors and relatives. with other balanced feed and vetiver show Flemingia (38.9 cm) and Caliandra (39.7 a remarkable body of gain within a short cm). But, adoption by upland farmers of In terms of farmers’ attitudes towards the period. Small scale farmers benefit both vetiver plantation was low. Resources limi- effect of Vetiver growing; the study showed socially and economically. The cultivation tation of upland farmers led them on short that both the Vetiver growers and non Ve- of vetiver helps both soil erosion and fertil- term orientation, and they only adopt tech- tiver growers had similar opinions that ity of the land which gives environmental nologies that give direct benefit. In that vetiver required more labour and time man- protection. So the socio-economic value case, farmers more prefer plant other agement. of vetiver is quite satisfactory for the poor grasses (such as king grass, elephant farmers in a country like Bangladesh. grass and setaria) or legumes (Fiemingia, The analysis of relationship between the Gliricidia, Leucaena, etc.) on alley system. adoption of Vetiver and certain socio- Grasses and legumes were planted by economic factors using Chi-square test re- Socio-Economic Dimensions Of Vetiver famers for fodder and fuel wood, but not vealed that the differences of ethnicity, so- In Rainfed Areas Of Karnataka (India) for soil conservation orientation., lower for- cial status, number of family labour and K.N. Ranganatha Sastry. State Govern- age production and poorer palatability of sources of information were significantly ment of Karnataka, India vetiver grass, compared with other grasses correlated with growing Vetiver. It was also and legumes, being the cause. found that the farmers who used to grow The vegetative measures for soil and mois- other alley crops grew higher proportion of ture conservation is most warranted for Vetiver than the ones who had never grown various reasons like protection of ecology The Adoption Of Vetiver Extension For alley crops before. and environment, cost effectiveness, sus- Highland Farmers tenance, simplicity in adoption, familiarity

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 9 ers as a gift of na- agroecological factors. ture to settle farm boundary disputes Socioeconomic factors have great influ- from many centu- ence in determining farmers preferences ries ago. in doing their farming system. Vetiver, as a single plant is considered unprofitable. The uses of the That is the reason that farm household liv- grass include, ing in upland watershed are more likely to hedge rows, farm choose other grasses. However, as an in- boundaries demar- tegral part of an upland farming develop- cation, thatch, mat, ment, vetiver has the best role in control- mulen, rope, hand ling soil and water erosion. It is essential crafts, and pest re- to reconsider the way researchers and ex- pellent. Supporting tension workers do their activities in upland evidence with film watershed. slides and some empirical data are provided. Vetiveria Cost Comparison In Producing Vetiver nigritana has es- Grass From Different Methods Of Pro- Photo 4: Nigeria, Bauchi State. Vetiver grass, Vetiveria nigritana, tablished it’s poten- duction used for making handicrafts. tials from it’s vast Sumol Sopakorn, Wichai Suwanakert and Photo credit: Ahmed U Ibrahim uses as important Darunee Kaewvichien. Land Development in both soil/mois- Department, Ministry of Agricultural and of operations among the farming com- ture conservation and source of revenue Cooperatives, Bangkok, Thailand. munity. This is being increasingly felt at generation to the African peasant farmer. academic, policy and planning levels. There According to the high demand of using is a need to translate this concept suffi- vetiver grass for soil and water conservation ciently at the execution level. Among the Farm Household Center: A Basis For from many government agencies, it is nec- various species available for vegetative Extension And Transfer Of Vetiver Tech- essary to find the best and quickest method approach, Khus (Vetiveria zizanioides) has nology. of producing vetiver grass for good quality, various uses because of its versatile fea- Kuscahyo Budi Prayogo. Agricultural In- low cost etc. tures. It can function as an independent formation Center, Central Java., Indonesia. measure, can initiate vegetative measures The study was carried out into 2 steps: with other species, supplement other spe- The existing situation related to vetiver ex- cies in vegetative measures. Because of tension activities in Central Java is dis- • planting vetiver directly into the plastic simultaneous existence of xerophytic and cussed. Although Java is the leading pro- hydrophytic characters (as revealed by ducer of vetiver oil, structure of its tissues), it can adapt under in some places various agro-climatic settings. The cost of people are con- multiplication of slips, planting, developing vinced that vetiver into a hedge and maintenance is far less actually causes compared to earthen and masonry mea- erosion. Farmers sures. Once introduced into a region and themselves think the farmers are convinced, it can expand that vetiver is not without the intervention of government profitable economi- agencies. These facts have been sup- cally. These prob- ported by tables, photographs and slides lems basically as experienced in Karnataka (India). show the failure in executing exten- sion and research Uses Of Vetiveria nigritana In Northern approaches. Up- Nigeria — A Case Study Of Bauchi State. land watershed Ahmed U. Ibrahim. Bauchi State Agricul- farming system tural Development Programme, Soil Con- need to be appro- servation /Agroforestry Component, Nige- ached and ana- ria. lyzed from three key perspectives, The paper high lights the uses which i.e. technical factor, Photo 5: Nigeria, Bauchi State. The wall of this grain store Vetiveria nigritana is put to in Northern socioeconomic fac- is made of vetiver grass, Vetiveria nigritana. The roof is made Nigeria. The locally available grass spe- tors and from Andropogan gayanus. cies in the region is known by the local farm- Photo credit: Ahmed U Ibrahim

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 10 bag, the field and greenhouse. pable parents managed to send their chil- tices are presently used by farmers. To • After the first step dividing the tillers of dren to these privileged Centres-Schools. enhance the adoption of soil conservation vetiver grass from the plastic bag, field practices by cassava farmers, a Farmer and greenhouse and replanting in the The result of the collision of these two com- Participatory Research (FPR) methodology plastic bag. pletely different educational systems was was used in two pilot sites each in Thai- class creation. The “Modern” system pro- land, Vietnam, China and Indonesia to test The results from the study showed that the duced a powerful minority group of “social and select the most effective practices. cost of producing vetiver grass were: misfits” that control political power from re- Farmers in Thailand and Vietnam selected mote centres called towns and cities. These vetiver grass contour barriers as one of 4 - Cost for the first step. people, unfortunately disregard the vast 5 treatments they wanted to test on their “Unschooled” rural based majority as primi- own fields. After harvesting all trials and • Cost of producing vetiver’s shoot in tive, obstinate, fatalistic, retrogressive and discussing the results, farmers in all three the plastic bag was 0.12 Baht. peculiarly impervious to any form of civili- villages in Vietnam selected the vetiver • Cost of producing vetiver’s shoot in zation-a condemned group to be ignored grass treatment as the most effective in the field was 0.08 Baht. until they die off. increasing income and reducing erosion. • Cost of producing vetiver’s shoot in Although the trials in Thailand have not yet the greenhouse was 0.20 Baht. Far from dying off, however, the rural ma- been harvested, farmers already observed jority, interact with nature. Using crude that the vetiver grass treatment was the Cost for the second step. methods, they produce the food and the most effective in reducing erosion. In both children that keep feeding the cities and the countries, participating farmers, after see- • Cost of producing vetiver’s shoot whole country. They, however, view the ing the benefits of vetiver grass, requested again from the plastic bag was 1.65 elites as an unrealistic and not down-to- additional planting material to plant in their Baht. earth lot. fields. • Cost of producing vetiver’s shoot again from the field was 1.61 Baht. The mutual suspicion that developed be- TOLERANCE OF VETIVER • Cost of producing vetiver’s shoot tween the products of the two educational again from the green house was 1.73 systems is, in our opinion largely respon- TO TOXIC CHEMICALS Baht. sible for the gross lack of complimentality in addressing Africa’s problems such as Vetiver Hedgerows And Agrochemical Note 1 US$ = Baht 25 malnutrition, high mortality rates, political Residues: A Case Study In The Cabbage confusion, wars etc. etc. Fields At Nong Hoi Development Cen- ter Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. J.Pinthong1, S. Imphitaks2,M. Udomchoke2, Alternative Dissemination Bridging The If, therefore, we are to talk about develop- 1 Gap ment that is environmentally friendly, then A. Ramlee 1 Stephen Rwangyezi. Ndere Troupe, Cul- we must talk about effective COMMUNI- Research Division, Royal Project Founda- tural Performers and Promoters, Offices at CATION and DIALOGUE with the rural tion 2 National Theatre Building, Uganda. population. But since the majority of them Department of Agriculture Technology, neither read nor write, given that radio and THAILAND The Educational methods that were intro- television, leave alone electric power, are duced in Africa during the second half of a luxury of the rich city dwellers, consider- The main objectives are to investigate the the 19th century by the first missionaries ing that the rural peasant is depending on fate of agrochemicals used for growing and which formed the basis for schools, their muscle power therefore with serious cabbage in between the vetiver hedgerows were completely different from those that time constraints (cannot afford the luxury (VHRs) and to evaluate the effectiveness tradition had developed since the existence of spending ‘endless’ hours in boring lec- of hedges in reducing the over supply of the African continent. tures and seminars) we must find in inter- amount of pesticides and nitrate fertilizer. esting, familiar and friendly method to dis- The experiment has been conducted in the Whereas in traditional Africa, education was seminate vital information and stimulate area of 15 x 72 square meters on 60 per informal-learning through work. play or con- open and sincere dialogue. cent slope. Split-plot in randomized com- versation, and where every body was a plete block is assigned with three replica- teacher-at any time and anywhere, (except tions (blocks). Each block consists of six for specialised education like medicine Farmer Participatory Selection Of Ve- plots with and without VHRs at 3 and 6 which was done through apprenticeship), tiver Grass And The Most Effective Way meter vertical intervals and also agrochemi- the European education emphasised se- To Control Erosion In Cassava-Based cals at zero, one and double doses were lection and isolation of learners, keeping Cropping Systems In Vietnam And Thai- applied. Seedlings were transplanted on them in partial prisons called schools, run land. July 13, and harvested in September 29. by “artificial creatures” code-named teach- Reinhardt Howeler, CIAT, Thailand Random samplings were later taken from ers, who were slaves to books called syl- the lowest VHRs of the three whole plants labi and to a bell that signified change of Research has identified various effective at each plot; and from soils to one meter periods and subjects irrespective of ways to reduce erosion in cassava-based depth in between and at one meter behind whether the previous ones had been un- cropping systems, including the use of the lowest VHRs. Included were sediments derstood or not. Only the financially ca- vetiver grass. However, few of these prac- from the collection tanks below. From the

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 11 analytical data, the three pesticides were hedgerows (VHRs) lined vertically at 3 and Wongwattana2 taken up into vetiver grass at different rate 6 m apart. Before and after transplanted K. Namwongprom1 and S. Suwannachitr1 and contents. Those applied were in soil on July 13, the pesticides, i.e. carbofuran, 1Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, cooperated as Carbofuran insecticides. monocrotophos, and alachlor were applied Kasetsart University, Bangkok, THAILAND. Alachlor herbicides sprayed 7 days after in single and double doses. On Septem- 2Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, planting cabbages and Monocrotophos ber 29, an approximate 78 days after trans- Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, spraying twice at 34 and 42 day during the planted the cabbages were harvested and THAILAND. growing stage. Carbofuran was found in were brought to the laboratory together with vetiver grass about 0.001 - 0.006 per cent; soil, sediment (from the small reservoir Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides Nash) Alachlor 0.01 - 0.08, and Monocrotophos below the experimental plots). and vetiver ecotype Sri Lanka was induced for salt tol- 0.19 - 0.53 per cent of the total fresh weight. grass for analysis. erance by culturing calli from young inflo- In soils, only Alachlor has been detected rescence on MS medium supplemented around 3.38 to 7.69 per cent. It is believed The analytical data revealed that most of with 5 µ M 2,4- D and 0.5 -3.0% NaCI, at that over 90 per cent of Carbofuran and the tested pesticides applied on cabbages 0.5% intervals for 45 days. At 0.5-1.5% Monocrotophos had decomposed and could be translocated and up taken by NaCI, 100% of calli survived. At 2, 2.5, and could have not been detected by the crops, adsorbed by soil as well as sediment 3.0% NaCI, their survival percentage method employed. Probably, the same in different amounts. The vetiver was ca- dropped to 82.5, 25, and 0%, respectively. decomposition happened for Alachlor after pable of pesticide absorption as indicating The surviving calli regenerated to plantlets spray to harvesting when the cabbage was by the residues of carbofuran, when transferred to hormone and NaCI free about 78 days old. Alachlor and monocrotophos and alachlor found at the MS medium for 30 days. However, the re- Monocrotophos were found both below and percentage of 0.001 - 0.006, 0.09 - 0.25 generation percentage declined with an in- over Maximum Residue Limit, i.e.>0.02 and and 0.01 - 0.08 of the total amount of ac- creased concentration of NaCI. The 1.0 - 0.20 ppm respectively. Carbofuran at nor- tive ingredient application, respectively. In 2.0% NaCI treated calli regenerated only mal and double close was lower according soil, only alachlor was detected between 10 - 20% while there was no regeneration to FAO/WHO CODEX (<0.5 ppm). Losses 3.69 - 7.56 per cent. While, the percent- in 2.5% NaCI. All obtained plantlets were of soil through VHRs of 5 months old found age of residues found in cabbage for tested for their salt tolerance by culturing at the moderate rate of 22.4 ton per hect- carbofuran, monocrotophos and alachlor on MS medium with NaCI at the same level are. There was only Alachlor found in sedi- were 0.005 - 0.01, 0.75 - 0.91 and 0.01 - as their calli were treated, in comparison ments about 0.02-0.5 per cent. The influ- 0.09, respectively. Moreover, alachlor resi- with the untreated plantlets. The result ence of nitrate fertilizer could not be pos- dues detected from the single and double showed that the survival percentage of sible as to have been detected by this pe- doses were exceeded the maximum resi- treated plantlets at each concentration of riod. A conclusion can be made at this due limit (MRL). This event was also oc- NaCI was higher. They tolerate up to 15% stage that VHRs have substantially contrib- curred in the cabbage applied with the NaCI while the normal plant can tolerate uted to a process of captivating over sup- double dose of monocrotophos. The loss nothing higher than 1.0% NaCI. plying of agrochemicals as the living walls. of surface soil by run-off which could be As a result detoxification should have been evaluated in term of sediment was at the possible and the better downstream water medium level 22.5 ton per hectare. Aside Effects Of Some Adverse Soil Condi- quality. This study is a preliminary one, thus from the rate of leaching the sediment was tions On The Growth Of Vetiver Zizanio- it still needs further detailed investigation. also an accumulation site for alachlor and ides L. carbofuran residues at the percentage of P.N.V.Truong and D.E. Baker 0.02 - 0.5 and 0.002 of the total active in- Resource Management Institute, The Capability Of Vetiver Hedgerows On gredient admitted, respectively. No data Queensland Department of Primary Indus- Decontamination Of Agrochemical Resi- were available for the absorption of nitrate tries, Melers Road, Indooroopilly 4068, dues: A Case Study On The Production fertilizer by vetiver in the experiment. The AUSTRALIA. Of Cabbage At Nong Hoi Development study concluded that the vetiver hedgerows Center Chiang Mai, Thailand. played an important role in contribution to It has been widely reported that vetiver Pinthong J.1, Impithuksa S2., Udomchoke the process of captivity as well as decon- grass can be established and flourish un- M2., Ramlee A.1.1 Research Division, Royal tamination of agrochemicals especially der a wide range of conditions including Project Foundation. pesticides and preventing them from con- some very hostile environments. However 2 Division of Agricultural Toxic Substances, tamination and accumulating in crops, very few quantitative data have been re- Department of Agriculture. streams and other ecosystems. Due to the ported to support these anecdotal obser- lacking of data upon the relationship be- vations. In a series of glasshouse and field The study was conducted in a cabbage field tween vetiver and agrochemicals, alto- experiments, it was shown that vetiver can at Nong Hoi Development Center, Chiang gether with this study which is a prelimi- thrive under a wide range of pH, it is highly Mai, in order to determine the movement nary one, therefore further study for more tolerant to saline and sodic soil conditions, and degradation of agrochemicals applied details is still needed. and Al and Mn toxicities. When adequately on cabbage which focused on their impacts supply with N and P fertilizers, Vetiver can on soil sediment and especially in vetiver. flourish between pH 3.3 and 9.5. The sa- Split-plots in RCB was designed in the area In Vitro Induction Of Salt Tolerance In line threshold level is ECse = 8 dS/m and of 15x72 in2 at sixty per cent slope. Each Vetiver Grass for 50% yield reduction, ECse = 17.5 dS/ block consisted of cabbage and vetiver M. Nanakorn1, S. Surawattananon1, C. m. These results include vetiver in a group

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 12 of highly salt tolerant crop and pasture spe- der a World cies grown in Australia. Its growth was also Bank not adversely affected by soil with ex- programme changeable sodium percentage of 33%. in the state. With adequate moisture, N and P supply High con- vetiver can flourish at soil Al and Mn higher centration than 68% saturation and 578 ppm respec- of salts in tively. the root These results support observations that zone of soil vetiver can be established under highly limit the pro- hostile environment and indicating that it is ductivity of highly suitable for land stabilization and 950 million reclamation of extremely hostile environ- hectares of ment such as mining and industrial wastes. otherwise productive land around In Vitro Selection Of NaCl Tolerance In the world. Vetiveria Species In India M. Nanakorn1, S. Surawattananon1, K. alone, there Namwongporm1 are 8.1 mil- K. Sangnil2 and S. Suwannachitr1 lion hect- 1Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, ares of Photo 6: Newly planted vetiver on cut section above canal in Kasetsart University, Bangkok, THAILAND. sodic land, Mindanao, The Philippines, used for bank stabilization and control 2Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, where pro- of debris. Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, THAI- ductivity is Photo credit: Francisco E. Garrido LAND. limited. We have been able to grow Vetiver success- BIO-ENGINEERING The NaCl tolerance of vetiver grasses were fully in the soils with high levels of ex- examined in vitro. There were 5 ecotypes changeable sodium in the root zone with ASPECTS of Vetiveria zizanioides Nash: Surat Thani, high pH (9 to 10.6) throughout the profile, Songkhla 3, Chiang Rai, Sri Lanka and In- poor water intake, occasional anaerobic Hydraulic Characteristics Of Vetiver donesia; and 5 ecotypes of V. nemoralis A. stress due to water logging, poor availabil- Hedges: Cam US: Kampaeng Phet 1, Prachuap Kin ity of phosphorus that limits the growth, and An Engineering Design Approach To Khan, Nakhon Sawan, Huay Diag and low fertility. Flood Mitigation On A Cropped Flood Gudbaak. The calli from young inflores- Plain. cence were cultured on MS medium Agro-techniques were developed for grow- P.A. Dalton, R.J. Smith and P.N.V. Truong supplemented with 5 ILM 2,4-D and 0-4% ing vetiver as hedgerow and flat beds in University of Southern Queensland and NaCI at 1 % interval for 45 days. The barren uncovered lands. The agro-tech- Queensland Department of Primary Indus- Kampaeng Phet 1 clearly showed maxi- niques included developing quality plant- tries, AUSTRALIA mum degree of salt tolerance. The NaCI ing material selected for tolerance to high concentration that gave 50% reduction in pH, optimum root formation, mycorrhizal Although the Vetiver system has been used callus growth was 1.95% and followed by association and vigorous vegetative worldwide, few studies described the hy- Prachuap Kin Khan at 1.31 %. The surviv- growth. The nursery was raised in a poly draulic characteristics of Vetiver hedges ing calli of the Kampaeng Phet 1 were re- house with mist irrigation. Application of quantitatively. This paper describes the ef- generated to plantlets on hormone and endomycorrhizae cultures (Glomus fectiveness of the Vetiver system in a quan- NaCI free MS medium for retesting of NaCI fasciculatum) facilitated root growth and P titative hydraulic manner beyond the well tolerance. uptake. Such selected and tailored slips documented anecdotal evidence. are being used for hedge under sodic land afforestation and development programme. The hydraulic characteristics of Vetiver Vetiver For Sodic Land Reclamation Capacity to provide planting material in hedges were first determined in a testing H. M. BEHL & A. K. SINGH, Tree Biology, commercial quantities has been developed. flume. From the data collected an empiri- National Botanical Research Institute Farmers are slow to accept the technology, cal hydraulic relationship was developed Lucknow however, a marketing strategy with appro- between the depths and discharge. This 226 001, India priate training is being planned. Initial train- relationship was used to calculate the maxi- ing is provided by “motivators” while tech- mum Vetiver grass hedge spacing required National Botanical Research Institute (then nical tips are provided by experts. Key per- to control soil erosion on a flood plain. NBG), Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh was a pio- sons are being trained for faster dissemi- neer for using vetiver (in 1956) for amelio- nation to end users. Vetiver along with From the model of flow through Vetiver ration of sodic sites. However, it is only other aromatic grasses such as lemon hedges, design hedge spacing were se- recently, after 40 years, that vetiver has grass and palma rosa are gradually gain- lected for a field site in Queensland. The again been opted for large scale trials un- ing cognizance and acceptability. various catchment and farm characteristics

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 13 cations in- tions are being widely considered in the cluding; new South Africa. combating of soil ero- sion, in Slope Stabilization: Vetiver Application farming and In Bio-Engineering Aspect forestry, Karn Trisophon and M.R. Samjamjaras commercial Rajanee, Department of Land Develop- planting for ment, Thailand. generation of essential Tremendous earth work during the con- oil, slope struction of Noppamaetaneedol and stability on Noppapol Phumisiri Pagoda at Intanon engineering summit has caused substantial change in sites, and the relief on the construction site. Falling most signifi- earthwork had formed a steeper slope Photo 8: Queensland, Australia. Vetiver hedge on Darling Downs Close cantly as which was stable enough to sustain itself up of photo 7. Note how the vetiver remains erect. stabilization during the dry season. But in the rainy sea- Photo credit: Paul Truong hedges on son, infiltrated water which was contributed slimes dams by subsurface flow had gradually increased in the gold and diamond industry. pore pressure and subsequently overcame were considered before a hedge spacing shear stress of the soil. This caused slope of 91.5m was selected for the site. Six rows South Africa has numerous very large failure. In order to reduce pore pressure, of Vetiver totaling over 3,000 m were slimes dams which represent a by-product strips of gravel pit were built so as to in- planted on the contour at this spacing. of deep level gold mining. These dams duce inflow from the excess moisture con- Flood discharges and depths and sediment consist of an extremely sterile, highly acidic tent of the soil. The excess water was then movement are being monitored at this site rock flour which becomes encrusted with drained into concrete dikes next to each to validate the above theory and quantifi- salts in the near surface layers. Aside from pit. Even though most of the excess water cation of Vetiver on the flood plain and to being hostile to plant growth, the slimes was drained out, what was left was enough monitor the effectiveness of the hedges. dams present severe dust, aesthetic, and to make the portion of slope adjacent to Early results from a small flow over the site acid mine drainage environmental prob- the dikes become unstable. To remove this show that the hedges reduce significantly lems. These dams are also located in harsh problem a row of vetiver was planted on the depth and therefore energy of flow climatic conditions including low rainfall and the outer bank of each dike. Vetiver’s out- through the hedges. At a low depression. temperatures which range from -5˚ C in win- standing root system had two roles. The 7.25 tonnes of sediment was trapped. ter to plus 30˚ C in the summer. Trial sur- first was to mesh up and mechanically add vival planting has shown that Vetiver rep- stability to the slope. The second role was resents an ideal plant material for stabili- to suck up the excess water and dissipate Vetiver In A Southern African Context zation of gold mine and slimes dams. Ve- it via evapotranspiration process. Anthony Tantum Specialized Soil Stabili- tiver has survived successfully for nearly 4 zation CC, P.O. Box 167, Howick, 3290, years on slimes dams in Welkom with mini- South Africa mal maintenance. Its use as a stabiliza- An Assessment Of Strength Properties tion medium is now accepted by the Gold Of Vetiver Grass Roots In Relation To Vetiver grass has been promoted and re- Mining Industry, and aside from the above, Slope Stabilization searched extensively in Southern Africa other commercial aspects (e.g. mulching, Diti Hengchaovanich and Nimal Santha, with considerable success. As a conse- thatch grass, weaving material) applica- Nilaweera Erocon Sdn Bhd, Kuala Lumpur, quence it is being used in a range of appli- Malaysia.

It is well reported that the root properties of vetiver grass can help reduce soil erosion and enhance slope stability when properly planted on soil slopes. In general the root properties can be subdivided into root strength properties and root morphological parameters. Photo 7: Queensland, Australia. Vetiver hedge on Darling Downs (black soils, flat plain, subject to Some previous studies on serious erosion when not protected. Vetiver hedges slow down flood velocity, and reduce erosion and vetiver plant have elabo- crop and crp dammage. rated the root morphological Photo credit: Paul Truong parameters qualitatively.

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 14 However, the strength properties of vetiver Luis R. Perez-Alegria, Ph.D.,P.E. and Luz from the leaves at growth stages to evalu- roots, which also play a significant role in Cruz MSc (C). Agricultural Engineering ate rooting characteristics and pattern of terms of erosion control and slope stabili- Department, University of Puerto Rico, root system. zation, have not yet been understood ad- Maya guez, Puerto Rico. equately. Vetiver is considered as a very Under field trial for studying root charac- deep-rooted penetrating grass variety Vetiver is being evaluated and considered, teristics at Doi Tung Vetiver Crass Re- which develops a fibrous profusely grown along with other conservation practices, as search and Development Centre, 2 vetiver root system. The root penetration is mainly a viable alternative for erosion control and grasses originated from Surat Thanee vertical and sometimes up to 3.6 m deep reforestation of large clear areas. Research (Vetiveria zizanioides L, Nash) and Pimai depending on the soil conditions. When a to calibrate the performance of vetiver as a (Vetiveria memoralis A. Camus) were stud- root penetrate across a potential shear sur- live sediment filter is in progress; the Re- ied. It was observed that at 1 and 2 1/2 face in a soil profile the distortion of the vised Universal Soil Loss Equation month after planting of a Slip of vetiver shear zone develops tension in the root; (RUSLE) is being used as the prediction grass, roots of both vetiver plants were the component of this tension tangential to model in very steep slopes subject to sev- found at 150 and 250 cm depths respec- the shear zone directly resist shear, while eral management practices including de- tively. However, more root density was the normal component increases the con- nuded areas. found at the depth 30 -100 cm. At 9.6 fining pressure on the shear plane. There- months growth stage of both vetiver plants, fore, it is essential to understand about the Vetiver barriers have been planted at 30 roots were found at soil depth 400 cm. and root tensile properties in the process of foot intervals in a 100 percent slope planted the highest root density was at the depth evaluating a plant species as a component in an intercrop of pigeon pea and celery in of 150, 250 and 350 cm. respectively. It of slope stabilization. the town of Jayuya, Puerto Rico. A sedi- was also found the roots of both vetiver ment collection equipment was designed, grasses at the depth of 500 cm. when ob- This paper intends to discuss about root built and installed before and after each servation was made at 25 months old. tensile strength of vetiver grass and its vetiver barrier. Sediment accumulation be- contribution to soil strength increase by hind the barrier is measured after every rain Vetiver grass, Viangchai, from Chiangrai means of experiments on root tensile event with surveying equipment. The was grown at side slope for the purpose of strength determinations and root perme- farmer has collaborated in all aspects of soil erosion control. Root systems was not ated soil shearing, which is a part of an the work from planning. contouring, plant- extensive due to inadequate nutrients ongoing research work specially design to ing to data collection. which was shown by the handed growth of assess both root strength properties and vetiver plants. However, roots penetrating root morphological parameters in relation The result of this experimental work will be were as deep as 400 cm. when the plants to slope stability and erosion control. Un- used to develop guidelines for use of vetiver were 17.6 months old. The results of root branched sections of vetiver roots in differ- in the hills of Puerto Rico and other tropi- density were vague. ent diameter classes up to about the aver- cal islands with similar ecosystems and age maximum root diameter (3.5 mm) were under agriculture and in construction sites Vetiver grass from tissue culture from Surat- tested in order to determine the tensile and along road banks to reduce the high Thanee and Hua Ka Kaengere were used strength. The results were compared with level of sediment yields from most agricul- to study root distribution at field trial. It can the root tensile strengths of other tree spe- tural watersheds in tropical environments. be concluded that on the average root de- cies which were obtained from previous velopment of vetiver grass studies of Surat- studies, and the effect of root diameter on Thanee would distribute horizontally from the tensile strength of vetiver roots was Root Characteristics And Root Distribu- the plant hill 60 cm. (soil depth 80-90 cm.) established. To obtain the contribution of tion Studies Of Some Vetiver Grass at the age of 6 months. At 8 -10 months old root tensile strength to the shear strength (Vetiveria zizanioides L, Nash And the distribution was between 80-140 cm. of soil, large scale direct shear tests were Vetiveria Nemoralis A. Camus) In Thai- (30-120 cm. depth) respectively. The root performed in 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.5 m3 root perme- land By Using P-3z Tracer Technique could spread in between 70-100 cm. apart ated soil blocks along with root free soil J Mahisarakul, P. Snitwongse and R. from the testing at the depth of 150 cm. It blocks with same soil properties. The dif- Payamanonta1 could be observed that at 180 cm. depth, ference between the shear strength values Nuclear Research in Agriculture Section, the root could distribute to the distant of 80 of root permeated and root free soils, the Di vision of Agricultural Chemistry, cm. away from the testing hill. For Hua Ka shear strength increase due to the pres- Department of Agriculture, Bangkok, Thai- Kaeng the root distribution was not as good ence of roots, were then analyzed with the land and 1the Office of the Royal as that at Surat-Thanee. The root could root area ratio, root diameter, root orienta- Doitung Development Projects, Maesai, spread uniformly between 40-60 cm. on av- tion and eventually with the root tensile Chiangrai, THAILAND. erage away from the testing grass (6 -10 strength to elaborate the significance of root months old). tensile strength of vetiver grass and its in- The root performances at different growth fluence in soil strength increase. stages of some local vetiver grass was con- ducted at different experimental sites within The Introduction, Early Results And Po- the Royal Doi Tung project area. Soil in- tential Uses Of Vetiver Grass Hedge Row Calibration Of Rusle With Vetiver Grass jection technique with P-32 at various dis- (VGHR) In the Mediterranean Region. As Live Sediment Filter In The Hills Of tances and depths of a vetiver plant hill was Troglia M., Yoon P.K., Tasias J., Rodriguez Puerto Rico. used. Radio activity of P-32 was monitored J.N., and Frutos D.T. Techa grind S.L, Italy.

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 15 The establishment and growth of VGHR nean Regions. It also suggests that Ve- needed (mic 60-65%) and cut vetiver grass were tested in the hostile, aerial and tiver could be established in the highlands composted with 7% with rice bran. These edaphic environment of Murcia, Spain. The of the tropics and the subtropics. mixtures were bagged, pasteurized and climatic condition consists of hot summer, spawned. cold winter with sub-zero temperatures, low precipitation and negative water balance AGRICULTURAL USES OF It was observed that the first method pro- over more than half a year. The soil is cal- VETIVER duced higher yield in every species. The careous, mostly clayey. Hilly topography is second method (non pasteurized), where common with serious erosion rates of more cut soaked vetiver grass was bagged and Nutritive Value Of Vetiver Grass Silage than 5000 Tm/km2 per annum. spawned simultaneously produced fruiting Supplement With Some Silage Additive bodies on only two mushroom species Varunee Panichpol, Chit Yoothavorawit and The experimental sites were in El Chopillo Plourotus sp. Florida and Pleurotus sp. Sompon Waipanya with 300 plants and in Lorca with 32,498 from Hungary. Division of Animal Nutrition,Department of plants on 5 trials testing soil protection and Livestock Development, THAILAND. moisture conservation under different con- ditions. Despite cold winter with frost, tri- Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides) Straw For To improve the nutritive value of Vetiver als established by container plants, from The Cultivation Of Oyster Mushroom grass, cv. Ratchaburi using a 30 day cut- December 1994, had overall transplanting (Pleurotus Spp) ting interval, was ensiled by adding 0.5% success of 95.9%. A.S. Krishnamoorthy and urea (Treatment 2), 10% molasses (Treat- S.Balasubramanyan. Regional Research ment 3), 1 5% mixed ground cassava chip Harvesting of plant tops in El Chopillo, pro- Station Kovilangulam - 626 107 Tamilnadu, (Treatment 4), 0.5% urea + 10% molasses duced 55 tiller and 1033 gm/plants after 14 India (Treatment 5), 0.5% urea + 1 5% mixed months. In San Julian, the Malaysian and ground cassava chip (Treatment 6) and American Cultivar produced 304 and 377 Possibility of utilizing vetiver (Vetiveria zi- compared with untreated Vetiver grass gm/plant with 45 and 79 tillers respectively zanioides) grass for the cultivation of (Treatment 1 as Control). After 30 days, after 9 months. Pleurotus euos (serk) Sacc., P. salmoneo - the result was that Treatment 3, 4 and 5 Stramineus L. Vass., P. citrinopileatus (Fr) had good quality in terms of palatability, pH, Excavation showed that the root system in Singer, P. Sajorcaju (Fr) Singer: P. platy- and percentages of dry matter, lactic acid, El Chopillo had reached a depth of 2.6 m. pus (Cooke and masee) sacc., was ex- butyric acid, nutritive value and dry matter In San Julian, the Malaysian and American plored. P. euos, P.salmoneo - Stramineus digestibility. Treatment 6 was judged of fair Vetiver had produced roots reaching down and P. Platypus colonised the vetiver straw quality due to higher percentages of butyric to 2.1 m. and 1.7 m. respectively. In all early (within 13 days) and yielded 355 to acid. Treatment 1 and 2 were of poor qual- cases, the major root masses were at the 405 g of mushroom/bed (Bio-efficiency ity. top 0.5 m. In a 45% slope of 11 meter ranged from 70 to 80 per cent). Paddy height, 2 blocks of 20 meters were planted straw and paddy straw + Vetiver grass (1:1 Vettiver Grass (Vetiveria Nemoralis) As with VGHR at 1 metre vertical interval in w/w) gave significantly higher yields (437.1 Substrate For Mushroom Cultivation. January 1995. The in-between block, left and 434.7 g/bed respectively) than vetiver Yongyuth Saifa, Prawit Taptimorn and unplanted as control, suffered severe ero- alone (385.9 g/bed). Prapaisri Pitakpaivan. Applied Microbiol- sion by September 1995 despite the low ogy Group, Plant Pathology and Microbiol- rainfall. Significant soil had been trapped ogy Division, Department of Agriculture, by the VGHRs. Allelopathic Effects Of Vetiver Grass On Thailand. Weeds Sub-zero temperatures in winter killed ex- Sombun Techapinyawat, Khunying Preliminary study on the cultivation of four posed tops but the buried crowns survived. Suchada Sripen and Thiamjai Komkris, different species of mushroom (Genus In early spring, new tillers were formed, Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Pleurotus) using dried vetiver grass followed by good and vigorous growth in Kasetsart University, Thailand. (Vetiveria nemoralis) as substrate, was Summer and Autumn. The plant’s re- conducted during March 1994 - January sponse to the seasonal weather condition Vetiver is a tropical perennial grass, widely 1995 at Som Dej Pra Sri Nakarin Royal suggests 4 distinct phases: distributed thoughout Thailand. Vetiver is Garden, Huai Sai Royal Development Cen- cultivated for erosion control as well as a ter, Petchaburi Province. They are • Frost injury and dormancy. sort of barrier to prevent the invasion of Pleurotus sp. Florida (Hed Hang Rom Kao), • Awakening and tillering. weeds. Experiments were performed to Pleurotus sp. from Hungary (Hed Nang • Rapid growth and biomass production. investigate allopathic effects of vetiver Rom Hungary), Pleurotus sp. (Hed • Slow growth or sustenance period. grass on weeds. Methanol extract of Bhuthan), and P. abalonus (Hed Pao Hu). ground dried stems and roots of 3 vetiver Pasteurization and non-pasteurization The tropical Vetiver Grass adapted well to ecotypes were tested on 10 common weed methods were applied. Two formulae of the the weather conditions and appeared to species. It was found that root and stem first method used for substrate preparation behave like a temperate plant. This, and extracts from 3 Vetiver ecotypes: were : Coarse ground vetiver grass mixed the good growth and root system suggest Ratchaburi, Suratthani and Indonesia with rice bran, sugar, magnesium sulphate potential uses for Vetiver in the Mediterra- strongly inhibited seed germination and (100 kg.: 4 kg.: 2 kg.: 0.2 kg.) and water as seedling growth of Amaranthus gracilis

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 16 Desf., Abutilon hirtum Sweet, Pennisetum namely Songkla 3, Sri Lanka, Kamphaeng before seed-set. Therefore, an eco-friendly polystachyon Schult, Melochia corchorifolia Phet 1, Ratchaburi, Loei, Su rat Thani, approach should aim at isolating the de- Linn. and Ruellia tuberosa Linn.. The de- Kamphaeng Phet 2, Naskorn Sawan, sired plant types that either do not bloom gree of inhibition depended on the vetiver Prachuap Khiri khan and Roi Et was con- or bear only infertile seeds. ecotypes, concentration of the extracts, and ducted at Amphur Muang, Narathiwat Prov- weed species dependent. The study also ince on Kho Hong soil series. The study In India, tremendous amount of genetic suggests the possibility of developing a showed that Ratchaburi gave the best per- variability exists in vetiver that can be clus- natural herbicide from vetiver grass which formance in term of height tillering and crop tered into five distinct groups on account will leave hopefully little or no toxic residue yield followed by Prachuap Khiri Khan and of karyomorphological characteristics and harmful to the environment. Songkla 3. 2C nuclear DNA content (range 2.0 to 2.6 pg). Although, non flowering/infertile plant types naturally occur in southern parts of Study On Compost Making From Vetiver A Global Perspective Of Vetiver India, their genetic manipulation to attain Grass H. Zvi Enoch. ARO, Institute of Soils and desirable attributes is greatly handicapped Pluechaya Thunyadee et.aI. Land Devel- Water, Dept. of Environmental Physics and for lack of an amenable reproductive sys- opment Department, Ministry of Agricultural Irrigation, P.O. Box 6, 50250 Bet-Dagan tem. Therefore, resorting to artificial poly- and Cooperatives, Bangkok, Thailand. ISRAEL ploidy is the obvious choice to meet the twin objectives of genetic manipulation for bring- The studies on compost making from The potential role of Vetiver grass in modi- ing a desirable change in agrobiological vetiver grass were carried out at 5 sites: fying unwanted effects of land-use-change characteristics as well as causing a break- namely Ratchaburi, Srisaket, Chiang Mai and burning of fossil fuel is presented. In down in sexual reproductive system. Land Development Station, Khao Hin Sorn this century we have witnessed large scale and Pikun Thong Royal Development soil erosion and climate changes. In the Curiously, the artificial autotetraploids de- Study Centre. The design was observa- next century soil erosion and climate veloped in this species have shown their tion trial with 4 treatments. The treatments change are expected to be even more dam- superiority over diploid progenitors with re- were: aging to the well-being of mankind. spect to economic yield by 60% and en- hanced soil binding capacity on account of 1 Making compost on the ground with The role of Vetiver grass hedges in restrict- thicker roots. The seed sterility associated LDI rhizobium and turn over. ing the world wide soil erosion is outlined. with such autotetraploids and the expected Means of restricting global warming by in- triploids would not only restrict their un- 2 Making compost in the hole with LDI creasing the carbon transfer from the glo- wanted spread, but facilitate channelisation rhizobium and turn over. bal atmosphere to the vadose and of saved biological resource of the plant to- phreaticenes using deep-rooted plants like wards vegetative vigour and secondary me- 3 Making compost on the ground with Vetiver is outlined. tabolism. high tech rhizobium. Various techniques for improving Vetiver Vetiver Grass In India 4 Making compost in the hole with high plant survival in cold, saline and arid con- Dr. T. K. Sivaraj M.Sc., Ph.D., Forest tech rhizobium. ditions are presented. ecologist Phone . 01631 - 71535. IWastelands De- After 150 days the results showed that the velopment Division, Centre, for Environ- ratio between carbon and nitrogen from Genomic Manipulation For Eco- Friendly mental Conservation and Rural Develop- treatment 1 is the best, followed by treat- Plantation And Enhanced Productivity ment, Dr. S. Krishnaswamypuram - ment 2,4 and 3 with the ratio of 20, 23, 26 Of Essential Oil In Vetiver 627602, Pappakudi (PO), Tirunelveli Dis- and 29 respectively. It also found that the U.C. Lavania and Sushil Kumar. Central trict, Tanmilnadu, India. chemical and physical properties of T1 is institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, the best followed by T2, T4 and T3. The Post: CIMAP, Lucknow - 226 015, India. ABSTRACT - 1 pH value ranging between 6.9 - 7.2. Profuse seed formation enriches vetiver The paper summarises research results of VETIVER AGRONOMY population in its natural habitat but leads the use of vetiver grass to improve the to a heterogenous mix of in-built genetic water holding capacity and moisture per- A Comparative Study On Growth, Root- variability that may not be always desirable. centage of soil in wastelands. Water hold- ing System And Yield Of Difference Nevertheless, the vegetative mode of ing capacity and moisture percentage are Ecotypes Of Vetiver Grass. propagation attendant in this species prom- the two important soil factors governing the Viroj Satanasolvapark, Chaiwat Sittibutr ises a distinct advantage for realising uni- productivity. Vetiver grass was grown in and Chaleol Jeerachanya, Land Devel form population and the resultant plant an area with known water holding capacity opment Department, Ministry of Agricultural products. But this does not take care of and soil moisture percentage for 20 and Cooperatives, Bangkok, Thailand. the menace that is likely to take place on months. A control plot was maintained with- account of seed dispersal, disturbing ge- out vetiver grass. Soil samples were col- netic purity of the growing population as lected once in a month in control and The comparative study on growth, rooting system, and yield of 10 ecotypes of vetiver well as spread of vetiver to undesired des- treated plots. Water holding capacity and tinations, lest the flowering tops are excised soil moisture percentage were determined

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 17 by standardized methods. When compared grass. kg. N per rai). Plot size were 4 x 6 m. with with control plots, the treated plots show 1 x 1 m. spacing. Experimental design was 20% increase in water holding capacity & The study was carried out in earthen pots. in RCBD with 3 replications. Growth was soil moisture percentage over control. Posi- Twenty five pots were kept without R D M observed and measured. The plants were tive correlation were made between root treatment (control) and twenty five pots harvested when they were 8-10 months old. biomass and the two soil parameters stud- were treated with R D M treatment. Biom- Shoot dry matter as well as other param- ied. ass (Root & Shoot) production was esti- eters were determined. In general, increase mated after 120 days. Productivity of in soil water levels as well as nitrogen fer- ABSTRACT - 2 vetiver in control pot is 0.225g/day and tilizer resulted in increase shoot dry mat- 0.383g/day in treated pots. Significant in- ter. Nampong soils gave the highest shoot Fine roots significantly influence soil or- crease in the biomass was noticed in the dry matter followed by Satuk and Roi-et ganic matter accumulation and nutrient cy- treated plants. Since this was only a pilot soils respectively. For Nampong soils, the cling. Characterization of the activity of the study carried out for practical application effect of irrigation was extremely high for fine roots is therefore a key approach to the conclusion is tentative and R D M tech- shoot dry matter when compared to the ef- the understanding of the below ground sys- nology needs further investigation. fect of nitrogen fertilizer where as on the tem (Singh). At the global level, fine root other soils, the effect from both treatments production represents a large and relatively were more or less similar. unknown portion of the production/decom- Effect Of Soil Water Levels And Nitro- position carbon balance. Despite the cen- gen Fertilizer On Growth Of Vetiver tral importance of fine root dynamics nei- Grown On Three Major Soil Series Of Varietal Selection For High Root Biom- ther a clear and consistent pattern of fine Northeast, Thailand. ass And Oil Yield In Vetiver root dynamics in communities nor an un- Santibhab Panchaban And Mongkon Ta- R.K. Lal, J.R. Sharma and H.O. Mishra, derstanding of factors controlling those dy- Oun. Department ofSoils, Faculty Central Institute of Medicinal & Aromatic namics has emerged (Aber). Very little in- ofAgriculture, Khon Kaen University, THAI- Plants, P.O CIMAP, Lucknow-2260 15, In- formation is available on this subject. The LAND. dia present study on fine root productivity of vetiver was designed to unravel temporal Experiments were conducted in green- Soil-erosion is a serious cause of ecologi- and spatial patterns of their size distribu- house and in the field to elucidate the ef- cal disturbances and environmental deg- tion, growth, decomposition and overall role fect of soil water and nitrogen fertilizer lev- radation. Its impact is more distressing in in the functioning of the below ground sys- els on growth of vetiver on three major soil resource-poor countries which can hardly tem. series of the Northeast, Thailand, namely: afford mechanical control of soil- Satuk (Oxic Paleustults), Nampong remediation. Vetiver — a perennial grass Root sampling. involved collection of rep- (Ustoxic Quartzipsamments) and Roi-et with its fibrous roots offers an inexpensive licate soil cores, hand washing and sorting (Aeric Paleaquults at Khon Kaen Province yet effective and eco-friendly tool to com- of roots from the soil matrix. Collections during 1993-1994). bat soil erosion. Axiomatically, the larger were made at monthly intervals. Ten ran- its root volume, better is the capacity to domly spaced samples (1.9 cm in diam- For the greenhouse study, four levels of soil conserve soil and soil moisture both. Be- eter and to a depth of 15 cm) were collected water (100, 80, 60 and 40% of field capac- sides, larger root volume will also ensure separately in the study area. (l8 months ity) were applied with each level of 0, 2.5, higher (dried) root yield which has multiple old stand of vetiver). Annual fine root pro- 5 and 10 kg. nitrogen fertilizer per rai. three economic uses including those related to duction of vetiver is estimated by max-min weeks old Songkla-3 vetiver seedlings were aroma and essential oil, the world re- method of McClagherty et al (1982) transferred into 5 kg. capacity pots. Soils nowned Khus oil (oil of vetiver). With this were treated with respective levels of wa- in view, we screened 45 indigenous The annual fine root biomass was 190 kg/ ter and nitrogen. Experimental design was germplasm collections of vetiver for fresh ha. Positive correlation was obtained be- factorial in CRD. Plants were observed for and dry root biomass, oil content and oil tween fine root biomass and organic car- growth and harvested at 3 months. yield. Sixteen clones/lines were found to bon content of soil. be promising. They were evaluated in ini- Roi-et soils gave the highest shoot dry tial station trial, where the best five strains ABSTRACT - 3 matter followed by Nampong and Satuk (BDP-1, BMH-1, MBR-5, BMH-3 and MBP- soils. In general, increase in soil water as 6) were shortlisted and elevated to bench The paper presents the impact of R D M well as nitrogen fertilizer levels resulted in scale trial (BST). The elite strain BDP-1 (Rock Dust Mineralisation) technology on increase in shoot dry matter for all soils. had the largest root-volume (dry root yield the biomass production of vetiver grass. There was no interaction between soil wa- = 97.0 q/ha) followed by BMH-1 (56.2 q/ The positive impact of R D M technology ter and nitrogen fertilizer levels for Satuk ha), BMH-3 (33.3 q/ha) and MBR-5 (28.7 was well studied and well reported in many and Nampong but Roi-et soils. q/ha), all registering 12 to 3.6 times more forest tree species and vegetable crops root yield than the commercial checks in (Joanna Camp). The technology is simple, For field study, three soil series with three BST. Fortunately, the oil content in their cost effective and environmental friendly. different locations were surveyed and se- roots was also high, hence economically As far as known to us this study is the first lected. For each soil, 2 levels of soil water most viable. Thus BDP-1 with its largest research effort made on the impact of R D (control and irrigation) were applied with root volume can serve as an excellent soil- M technology in the productivity of vetiver each level of nitrogen fertilizer (0 and 10 binder besides being the most productive

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 18 oil strain of vetiver. 30 g/m row length in furrows at planting And Water Conservation. recorded highest survival (95%) and sig- Thiombiano L. R. Zougmore and F. VETIVER GRASS HEDGE nificantly higher number of tillers/plant (116) Kambou. Agricultural Institute, Burkina and clump girth (79 cm): closely followed Faso. (INERA) Bp. 476 Ouagadougou, ROW TECHNOLOGY by FYM application - 600 g/m row length. Burkina Faso. Planting of vetiver in furrows opened at bot- Studies On The Effect Of Contour Veg- tom of ‘V’ ditch is found suitable method as Using vegetation in a trial of soil and water etative Hedges On Moisture Conserva- it recorded maximum survival as compared conservation is an important challenge in tion, Growth And Yield Attributes Of Mil- to planting on top of bund of ‘V’ ditch and arid and semi-arid zones. The objective of lets, Cotton And Pulses Under Rainfed on berm. Planting of polybag raised vetiver the study is to obtain data on the com- Conditions. recorded maximum survival (98%) over portment of three grass species, V. zizanio- S. Balasubramanyan and S. Senthilvel. field nursery raised (17%). Polybag raised ides (unknown in the country), the local Ve- Regional Research Station, Kovilangulam vetiver also gave significantly better growth. tiver (V.nigritana) and A. gayanus. On a - 626 107 Tamilnadu, INDIA In a two year (1992 & 1993) study planting bare ferrugineous soil (Lixisol), three stone of vetiver immediately or within 24-36 hours lines were built along the micro-topogra- To ascertain the performance of pulses, after uprooting from nurseries was found phy with a distance of 33 meters. The three millets and cotton with different hedging effective in better establishment of vetiver species were used for vegetatization of the systems on a slopey land under rainfed hedgerows. stone lines. condition, a study was conducted with vetiver, subabul, cenchrus grass and The results obtained show a few mortality desmathus as hedges. The results re- Effect Of Applying Vetiver Grass On of V. zizanioides (3%) compared to the lo- vealed that the growth of the cotton, Sloping Lands In China. cal grass (18% for V.nigritana and 34% for redgram and greengram were best influ- Chen Xuhui and Ronald D. Hill, Guizhou A.gayanus) in terms of growing after plan- enced by cenchrus hedge followed by Academy of University of Hong Kong, Ag- tation. Concerning plant height, local grass vetiver hedges. Vetiver hedging system ricultural Sciences, P.R. CHINA. (A. gayanus) have a total longer of 203 cm has shown very good effect on the yield of when Vetiver grass (local and exotic) have annual crops. The vetiver hedges con- Planting grasses or shrubs along the con- just 103, 5 cm after 103 days. The weight served 21.80%, 20.98%, and 19.77% soil tours is extremely effective for erosion con- of dried material is respectively 7570 g for moisture at various stages of growth, and trol on slopes. In order to explore measures Andropogon, 3548 g for V. zizanioides and thereby helped all annual crops to produce for speeding up the growth of vetiver grass, 866 g for V. nigritana. The coverage of the higher yield. In dryland farming, hedging a fertilizer trial was conducted. According soil in amount of the stone line is about 80 with vetiver is recommended for moisture to observations, the growth of vetiver grass - 90% for Andropogon and 50 to 60% for conservation and higher yield of the inter- in the first year after being transplanted Vetiver grass. The soil moisture evaluate crops. could the divided into three stages: the re- ponderal method is twice more under A. covery stage, the rapid-growth stage and gayanus comparatively to V. nigritana. V. the trimming and gathering stage. zizanioides maintained more moisture in Suitable Techniques For Establishment the soil than the local Vetiver. These data Of Vetiver Hedgerows In Semi-Arid Re- On farmland, the vetiver grass in the con- revealed the potential of Vetiveria zizanio- gion Of Rajasthan-India trol plots survived very well and formed ides growing in soudano-sahelian zone and S.C. Manhot & P.C. Chaplot. College of hedgerows rapidly, whereas the treatment the possibility to use it for stone line Technology and Agricultural Engineering, of applying fertilizer showed no obvious vegetalization to combat erosion. Rajasthan Agricultural University, Udaipur, effect. As most fertilizer disturbed the re- Rajasthan 313001, India. covery of vetiver, if we must apply some fertilizer to farmland in order to multiply Studies On A Biological Erosion Con- Investigations were carried out in semi-arid seedlings of vetiver, we had better use fer- trol System Integrating Tree And region at Udaipur during 1991-1995 to tilizer after manure. Grasses To Manage Degraded Soils Of study the effect of plant spacing, densities, Foot-Hill Himalayas. polymers, manures, planting methods and On sloping bare land, the organic manure S.S. Grewal and J.S. Samra. Central Soil time gap between uprooting from nursery is better than the chemical fertilizer, and and Water Conservation Research Centre, and planting in field for effective establish- treatment NPK + FYM had a more obvious 27 A, Chandigarh, 160027, India. ment of Vetiver hedgerows on alfisols be- effect. The lack of phosphorus would seri- longing to land use capability Class VI (non ously disturb the survival, growth and grass- Soil erosion is the single largest factor re- arable). and Class IV (arable). The soils yield of vetiver. If we apply the NPK fertil- sponsible for degrading quality and produc- are low in N, medium in P and rich in K izers, we had better apply them in split ap- tivity of land in India. It is estimated that content. Wider spaced (15 to 20 cm) plant- plications which is better than applying the 45% of forest, 56% of farm, 86% of culti- ing proved significantly superior in respect whole NPK at transplanting. vable wastes and 95% of pasture lands to growth compared to 10 cm: presently in suffer from erosion related problems. operation. Planting of 2 or more than 2 slips/ Though 39 million hectares have since hill recorded highest increase in survival Comparative Study Of Vetiveria zizanio- been treated in the last 30 years, but each and growth. Among the polymers and ides, Vetiveria nigritana, And year area degraded far exceeds the area manures. application of agrosoke polymer Andropogon gayanus In A Trial Of Soil rehabilitated. Unless massive efforts are

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 19 made to mobilize farming communities, the nificant. All grasses tended to reduce run- losses. Dry matter production was highest march of degradation cannot be contained. off and hence soil loss. The lowest water from guinea grass (1540 kg/ha). The yield This would, however, require the develop- loss (2.2%) was recorded under natural of following rainfed wheat was visibly higher ment of cost effective and easily adaptable grass followed by planted Vetiver grass in the upper reaches up to 5 m. due to depo- packages linking conservation and produc- (5.8%). The residual soil moisture left in 0 sition of fertile sediment (40 t/ha) and bet- tion to motivate farmers. High cost and - 30 cm soil profile at harvest was highest ter moisture regime. Thus grass barriers questionable performance of mechanical (9.1%) in Vetiver grass. S. munja provided were more effective than other measures measures have also shifted emphasis to the maximum biomass, when Bhabar and of conservation agronomy and engineer- biological measures of land amelioration. Vetiver were almost at par. The roots of ing. There is a tendency to change the It is planned that 40 million ha of waste- Kana were relatively more sturdy and thick slope into Puerto Rican terraces due to lands be developed with vegetation mod- but the root density was low. The roots of grass barriers. els designed for each agro-ecological re- Bhabar and Vetiver grass were more fine, gion integrating multi purpose trees and spongy, larger in number and hence their sod-farming, conservation effective peren- root density was much higher. The results Performance Of Vetiveria zizanioides In nial grasses having inherent ability to thrive of 3 years of study indicated that Vetiver Rainfed Areas Of Vindhyan Plateau Of on degraded sites and provide usable bio- was more conservation effective, Sacrum Madhya Pradesh, India. mass and economic returns. gave more biomass and Bhabar grass pro- Khandwe, Rupendra; Vyas, M.D. and Sa- vided more of economic returns. The emer- ran, R.N. J.N. Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, In the Himalayan foot-hill ecosystem of gence of clear picture about their relative Jabalpur, India. north India, Acacia nilotica is the most fa- merits would take few more years of study. vored multipurpose tree species, Bhabar The seven year study since 1987-1994, on (Eubiopsis binata) and Kana (Saccharum the performance of vetiver was carried out munja) are important sod forming natural Comparative Study Of Hedgerow Of Ve- under World Bank aided Watershed Devel- perennial grasses. Dub grass (Cynodon tiver And Other Grasses With Mechani- opment Project at Rafi Ahmad Kidwai Col- dactylon) also commonly thrives and meet cal Measures On Erosion Losses At 4% lege of Agriculture, Sehore (M.P.) India. conservation and forage needs. Vetiver Runoff Plots The seeds of vetiver from different locations grass (Vetiver zizanioides) occurs naturally S.P. Bhardwaj, Principal Scientist and Head in different years were tested under labo- in wet pockets and was strongly recom- of Division, Central Soil & Water Conser- ratory and field conditions for their germi- mended in many of the internationally vation Research & Training Institute, Dehra nation. The viability of vetiver seeds re- funded projects on conservation of natural Dun-248 195, India. duce as the increase in storage period. resources. The research information on the Relatively higher germination 28.33% was integration of these remarkable plant spe- Mechanical measures namely bunding observed in laboratory compare to 11.66% cies in a silvipasture system was lacking. (earthen embankment), terracing, trench- in field condition. The naturally germinated Hence the study. ing etc. used to stabilize high slopes have number of vetiver plants was observed been found costly, area consuming and 16.22 and 17.44/m2 with up and down In a replicated and randomized field experi- unstable structures needing maintenance stream on existing vetiver hedge row re- ment started in July 1990 on a 1.2 ha of cost on agriculture lands up to 4 percent spectively when the field was cultivated degraded gravelly soil near Chandigarh slope. Therefore, erosion control measures during winter and rainy season. While in (30˚ - 45' N, 76˚ - 15' E, 350 m MSL) of conservation agronomy and grass bar- uncultivated field during both crop season, typically representing semi-arid climate; rier were tried on runoff plots (l00 x 20m) the vetiver plant was 48/m2. Acacia nilotica was uniformly planted from on 4 percent slope equipped with H flume, nursery raised tube plants at 8m x 5m spac- stage level recorder and Coshocton Silt In a study on application of fertilizer doses ing in 30 cm3 pits. Four understorey grasses Sampler. Three grasses namely, Khus on the establishment of vetiver hedgerow. namely Bhabar, Vetiver (0.5m x 0.5m), grass (Vetiveria zizanioides), Bhabar grass It was found that the application of 20 kg N

Kana (1 m x 1 m), natural dub grass were (Eulaliopsis binata) and Guinea grass + 20 kg P205/ha as basal dose was most raised in the interspace and compared with (Panicum maximum) were planted in 60 cm effective. The vetiver barrier caused higher control having no grass. Interplot earthen wide strips on contour at 100 cm vertical soil deposition in upstream with the aver- bunds of 20 cm height were made to con- interval. The soil loss (52 t/ha) and runoff age soil deposition from 6.78 cm in two serve rainwater. Runoff and soil loss was (45%) of rainfall from cultivated fallow were rainy season to maximum of 21.15 cm in measured using Ramser samplers. The reduced to 18 t/ha and 51 percent respec- seven rainy seasons. Four to five percent root system of the 3 planted grasses was tively by following contour cultivation of higher moisture conservation on upstream studied by excavating soil monoliths at one corn. There was further reduction in soil was recorded than the down stream. and two years of age. Grasses were har- loss (10-12 t/ha) and runoff (40 %) by vested twice a year in June and November adopting strip cropping, intercropping, zero In the screening of various locally available and air dry weights recorded. tillage and bunding. Introduction of vegeta- grasses in comparison to vetiver for estab- tive barriers (live bund) gave and average lishing soil and moisture conservation. It All the four understorey grasses affected (7 years) soil loss 5-6 t/ha and runoff 33% was found that the vetiver recorded higher the survival (except Vetiver) and growth of of rainfall. The performance of bhabar survival percent and higher soil particle Acacia nilotica seedlings as compared with grass was comparatively poor. Corn yield binding capacity. no grass treatment (Table 1). The depress- in most cases remained unaffected (23-24 ing effect amongst grasses were non-sig- q/ha) due to minor variations in erosion

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 20 Environmental Considerations In Ero- Pradesh), an attempt has been made to col- butes are taken up. sion Control: Use Of Vetiver Grass In lect surface runoff water filtering the water Soil Moisture Conservation Program In at various stages in to an unconfined aqui- The results of the case study indicate that Sardar Sarovar (Narmada River) Catch- fer specifically by passing through the net- the establishment of Vetiver and its survival ment In India. work of vetiver grasses provided as biologi- percentage are directly correlated to rainy Pawan Kumar and A.K. Malhotra. cal filter on the bed and side of the drains. days, depth of soil and other managerial Narmada Control Authority, Indore - 452 The studies were performed from 1990-95 factors like, the problem of stray cattle. In 010 Madhya Pradesh, India. at Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University scarcity zone the use of Vetiver as a con- campus Indore. Integrated Soil & Water servation measure failed except in a few Soil and land form an integral part of the Conservation Techniques were used to drainage line treatments. In sub-mountain fragile life supporting system basic to mans maintain the water level in the open wells zone drainage line treatments like live existence. However excessive soil erosion viz., technique of water spreading and re- check dam and loose boulder structure with consequent high rate of sedimentation charge through direct water injection. Wa- show excellent results while land treatment in the man made water bodies and de- ter spreading techniques contributed 23% has only limited success. Instead of plant- creased land fertility have become serious to the ground water recharge while injec- ing vetiver merely as a barrier, a minor en- environmental problems with disastrous tive techniques contributed 77%. An aver- gineering support would give better result. socio economic consequences. For revers- age annual recharge for the five hydrologic ing the trend, there is an urgent need for years (1990 - 91 to 1994 - 95) was 60308 In sub-mountain zone, the survival percent- adapting economically viable techniques of m3. Total amount of water drawn from the age of Vetiver is the highest in live check soil moisture conservation. Quick method ground water sources (average annual dam, supported by minor engineering struc- of erosion control through construction of value was 56554 m3) for an average an- ture (65.50%). It is followed by loose boul- engineering structures have neither signifi- nual rainfall 0.977m during this period. Simi- der structure which is reinforced by Vetiver cantly stopped erosion nor have signifi- larly. two year’s average annual rainfall and at 47.75%. Thirdly, land treatments named cantly increased yields of crops through im- draft of water from ground water sources as contour vegetative hedges give the low- proved moisture conservation. They also recorded during 1988 - 89 to 1989 - 90 was est survival at 41.50%. From the case study do not work in the long run. While vegeta- 852 m3 and 21710 m3 respectively. After it is clearly observed that planting material tive systems in conjunction with appropri- adoption of integrated water conservation plays an important role in the survival of ate cultivation practices were in most cases techniques 34844 m3, about 1.6 times in- Vetiver, in addition to managerial factors like found suitable. crease in the water reserves in the wells the problem of stray cattle. The overall con- was achieved. It was found that out of clusion is that dry spell adversely affects The present paper discusses the use of Ve- 50308 m3 water additionally recharged the survival percentage of vetiver. The tiver as an economically viable method in 34844 m3 could be recouped which forms average rainy days in sub-mountain zone erosion control of arable lands and its us- 69% of the average recharge value. Vetiver are 75 while in scarcity zone it is only 25. age in catchment area treatment program grass has provided an excellent filtering The dry spell thereafter and the problem of in Narmada river basin in India where effect. stray cattle causes the mortality of vetiver. 175,000 ha area is being treated with ero- However, vetiver in good survival situations sion control measures. Socio-economic Constraints Of Using Vetiver In Water- gives excellent results in terms of soil ero- problems associated with planting of vetiver shed Management In Sub-Mountain And sion control and moisture conservation, on large scale in Narmada river basin are Scarcity Zone Case Study Of Nashik which account for good land returns i.e. analyzed. Based on the experiences District (India). crop production. drawn, planting, of vetiver as an integral Prakash Pawar. Government of component of interactive subwatershed Maharashtra, Department of Soil & Water An attempt is made in this case study to planning, is recommended for low cost ero- Conservation, India. compile all available information and its sion control in extensive areas of a river correlation to field situation. basin to mitigate the stresses on the local Soil and water are the most vital natural environment. resources for the survival of mankind. Proper management of this natural re- Effect Of Vetiver Hedge On Runoff, Soil sources on watershed basis gives excel- Loss, Soil Moisture And Yield Of Rainfed Use Of Vetiver Grass As A Filter In The lent results. Engineering structure for man- Crops In Alfisol Watersheds Of South- Process Of Ground Water Recharge aging, is expensive. Vegetative measures ern India Through Open Wells. by use of Vetiver is quite inexpensive and C.Nagender Rao, M. Singa Rao, A. Padma Y.M. Kool1, R.N. Saran2, S.L. Dandir3 it is promoted in a centrally sponsored Raju and R. Prabhu Prasadini. Division of 1 & 2 Head Engineering Section and Dean scheme in India. Accordingly, twelve wa- Soil Science, Andhra Pradesh Agricultural College of Agriculture, Indore (M.P.)INDIA. tersheds comprising two Agro Climatic University, Rajendra Nagar, Hyderabad -

3 Chief Engineer, Public Health Engineer- Zones are undertaken in Nashik District, 500 030, India. ing Department, Indore Zone, Indore, IN- with a geographical area 52,952 Ha. Since DIA. 1991 - 92, 4855 tonnes of Vetiver slips Runoff and soil loss are the twin problems (Vetiveria zizanioides) are used for drain- threatening the security and sustainability To solve the vital problem of constantly re- age line and land treatment of watershed of crop production in the Deccan plateau ceding ground water in the plateau regions management. A case study of Vetiver in of Peninsular India. Low cost and easily of Malwa & Nimar (Western Madhya the use of soil and water conservation attri- adoptable technologies need to be devel-

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 21 oped for conservation of natural resources. make an effective barrier due to adverse Studies On The Effects Of The Soil And Experiments were conducted on shallow climatic and edaphic conditions. Locally Water Conservation Of Vetiveria Zizanio- gravelly Alfisol having 2.5% slope during adapted grasses such as Cymbopogon ides In Eucalyptus Plantations 1990 - 95 to study the effect of vetiver jwarancusa, Cenchrus ciliaris and Liao Baowen The Research Institute of (Vetiveria zizanioides) hedges on soil and Cenchrus setigerus performed exceedingly Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of water conservation, and yield of rainfed well and formed effective barriers against Forestry, P.R. China. crops, sorghum + redgram and castor. Ve- soil erosion in a span of 2 years. tiver hedge on contour reduced the runoff In the new afforestation land of Eucalyptus and soil loss by 65.75 and 75.59% (1993- Significant reduction in peak flow and run- ABL No.12 plantation, at Yangxi county, 94) and 66.65 and 76.98% (1994-95), re- off volume have been recorded in the bar- Guangdong Province, China, three experi- spectively over contour cultivation alone. rier fields over control. The runoff volume ment plots, included a row of vetiver grass Vetiver + dead furrows (deep furrows) at reduced between 22 and 71 %. The bar- in two rows of trees, a row of stylo grass in 3.6 m interval reduced runoff and soil loss riers do not channelise runoff and allow two rows of trees and only trees without by 56.33 and 70.48% (1993-94) and 58.33 greater opportunity time for the rainwater any grass (the control plot) were set up in and 70.77% (1994 - 95), respectively over infiltration. The barrier fields store 12 to April 1991. The runoff plot had been es- dead furrows alone. Vetiver hedge on con- 16% of soil moisture as against 6 to 10% tablished in each plot and the laws of tours increased mean soil moisture (up to in the control fields. The soil loss reduced changes in rain, height, surface loss rate 45 cm depth) by 5.13 to 8.55% over con- from 530 kg /ha in the barrier fields. Also of soil and water were observed and stud- tour cultivation alone. The increase in soil the sheet and rill erosion were checked to ied. The three-year observation results in- moisture content with vetiver + dead fur- a greater extent. All these resulted between dicated that the surface runoff rate in vetiver rows was 6.96 to 10.85% over dead fur- 37 and 51% more yield of guar (Cyamopsis grass was 20351 t/hm2, which was 15.2% rows alone. The average soil moisture tetragonoloba) over control. lower than that of stylo grass and 58.5% content 2 m above vetiver hedge was lower than of the control plot. The soil loss higher by 8.61 to 16.25%, compared to the The contour vegetative barriers of local was 68.2 t/hm2, which was 28.2% lower soil moisture below (2m) Vetiver hedge. grasses were more acceptable to the farm- than that of stylo grass and 51.1% lower The percent increase crop yields due to ers as these are less expensive, easy to than that of the control plot. The loss rate vetiver hedge ranged from 7.04 to 22.37 raise, less labor intensive and provide fod- of the solid and liquid nutrients were also over that of contour cultivation. Vetiver + der in the lean period. much lower than that of the stylo grass and dead furrows recorded 3.79 to 8.29% in- control plot. The vetiver grass hedge can creased yields over dead furrows alone. not only resist erosion, but promotes tree The crop yield above vetiver hedge was The Function Of Vetiver In Agriculture growth as well. higher by 15.55 to 17.98% over that below Ecosystem the vetiver hedge. Xia Hanping, Ao Huixiu, Liu Shizhong and the Daoquan. South China Institute of Hedgerows And Mulch As Soil Conser- Growing of vetiver hedges on contours and Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, vation Measures On Steep Lands. adopting conservation tillage practices be- People’s Republic of China, P.R. China. Oscar S. Rodriguez P. College of tween them can thus be an effective Agronomy, Central University of Venezu- method to reduce runoff and soil loss, and The experimental results showed that ela, Venezuela increase in-situ moisture thereby obtain vetiver could efficiently ameliorate many higher crop yields in rainfed Alfisols of the properties of soil. For example, it could A summary of the experience with vetiver central parts of Southern India. lower the acidity and exchangeable Al of and other grasses used in soil erosion re- strongly acid soil by 0.5 - 0.7 and 0.3 - 0.6 search in Venezuela is presented. The cmol.kg, respectively. A significant increase need for accelerated data production Vetiver Vis-A-Vis Indigenous Plant Spe- in soil organic matter, total N, available N through simulated tests in the field is high- cies For Conserving Soil And Water In and K, and porosity was found after plant- lighted. Four experiments were conducted Arid Lands ing vetiver for 29 months. However, vetiver under field simulated rainfall conditions at S.K. Saxena, K.D. Sharma, N.S. Vangani didn’t enhance soil P. After vetiver was es- 1800 masl. in the mountain coastal range and H.P. Singh Central Arid Zone Re- tablished, the moisture of soil was in- of Venezuela, with 5 m length and 0.5m search Institute, India. creased by 20.3 - 42.3% in 0 - 20 cm depth width plots and an average rainfall inten- and by 4.2 - 13.4% in 20 - 40 cm depth, sity of 556 mm/h using a double nozzle rain- Study on the performance of contour veg- respectively. Furthermore, vetiver distinctly fall simulator, on an Aquic Paleudult soil etative barriers as soil and water con- slowed down the dropping speed of soil with different humidity contents and two servation measures has been initiated dur- moisture. The vetiver treatment averaged 15% and 26% slopes respectively. In or- ing 1991 on the farmer’s field covering an 60% and 93% less runoff and soil loss than der to evaluate the efficiency of five differ- area of about 50 ha near Jodhpur. The area the control, respectively, in 2 years. Ve- ent hedgerow conditions: 50 cm wide receives an average rainfall of 360 mm per tiver also improved the microclimate of ag- Vetiveria zizanioides 0 (Vetiver), Aga- annum. Eight species of grasses, 3 shrubs ricultural ecosystem, which increased the panthus africanus (Lily). Nephrolepis sp. and 3 under shrubs were tried on contours relative humidity by approximately 5%, and (Fern). Andropogon citraturn (Lemon grass) at 1 m vertical interval in 3% slopey fields. declined the air temperature by 1 - 2˚ C. and no hedgerow. and five levels of pine Vetiver was used as control. This grass needles: 0 Mg/ha. 0.5 Mg/ha. 1.5 Mg/ha, 3 though survived on few fields but failed to Mg/ha and 5 Mg/ha used as a mulch. Over-

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 22 land flow was simulated in order to obtain 1 and 2 m. compared with no vetiver grass should be counteracted by establishing equivalent slope lengths using a 01/min, a treatment, vetiver grass treatments can vetiver hedges and adequate plant cover. 21/min, a 61/min and a 141/min flow, rep- reduced soil loss to 43.55, 39.72 and Effects Of Vetiver Grass And Leucaena resenting a 21/min flow equal to an 80% 22.89% respectively. However they can re- For Soil Erosion Control In Sugarcane, rainstorm runoff similar to that obtained duced soil loss up to 53.98, 50.85 and Maize And Cassava Crop Practices under humid and saturated conditions on 37.13% when comparing vetiver grass Somchai Anusontpornperm, Winal a 5 m length bare plot. treatments with the treatment of planting Supattanakul and Prayuth Kawilaves. cassava up and down slope after land Agro-Technology Department, Thailand Hedgerows and mulch are good conser- preparation. Institute of Scientific and Technological vation measures, especially when they are Research, Thailand. combined. The residue requirements are less when the slope is protected by Establishing Vetiver Hedges To Allevi- Four experiments on the effects of vetiver hedgerows. and larger intervals between ate Soil Erosion In The Rubber Replant- grass and leucaena in sugarcane, maize hedgerows are possible provided there is ing Area Of Southern Thailand and cassava (grown early and at nearly the mulch on the surface of the soil between Sayan Sdoodee. Department of Plant Sci- end of rainy season) crop practices were hedgerows. Soil losses in wet conditions ence, Faculty of Natural Resources, Prince conducted during 1993-1995 in a farmer’s were reduced to less than 1 Mg/ha by com- of Songkla University Hat Yai, Songkhla, field at Tambon Huai Bong, Amphoe Dan bining any residue cover and a Vetiver Thailand. Khun Thot, Changwat Nakhon Ratchasima. hedgerow against almost 8 Mg/ha on the The experimental plots were in a soil with bare 5 m length plot. Equivalent slope A rapid increase in rubber plantation in sandy loam surface on three, four, five and lengths increased soil losses up 25 Mg/ha southern Thailand, has lead to the move- six percent slope respectively. The experi- on a 40m equivalent length bare plot. For ment of plantation area on marginal land, mental design of all experiments was ran- the same slope equivalent length condition often steep land where the damage of soil domized complete block with four replica- there was a soil loss of only between 1- 2 erosion is great during heavy rainfall. To tions. Each replication consisted of four Mg/ha with the highest residue level applied alleviate this impact, an experiment was es- treatments: one and two-rows of vetiver and a loss less than 1 Mg/ha when the resi- tablished in a farmer’s rubber-replanting grass strip, one-row of leucaena strip and dues and the hedgerows were combined. area under traditional intercropping in the control. Vetiver grass and Nephrolepis (Fern) were Songkhla Province. Rubber seedlings are the most efficient hedgerows because of grown (spacing 3 x 7 m.) on a highly erod- Results obtained from the experiments re- their high density vegetative structure. Un- ible sandy loam soil on land with slope of vealed no significant difference among der dry soil and humid soil, slope effect was 12%. A randomized block design was used treatments in the amount of soil loss due considerable but under saturated soil the with 5 treatments (1 - sole cropping of rub- to erosion in the first and second year in slope effect was not evident. Runoff was bers or control; 2 - establishing vetiver sugarcane. On the other hand, in maize, also diminished by the residue cover and hedges between rows of rubbers (R+V); 3- the control treatment showed the highest hedgerows but efficiency was poor under rubbers intercropped with upland-rice amount of soil loss with an average of 7.236 saturated conditions. Simulated rainfall al- (R+P); 4 - establishing vetiver hedges be- ton/ha which was significantly higher than lowed to reduce time and costs of exp eri- tween rows of rubbers intercropped with that of the one-row of vetiver grass strip ments as compared with natural rain. A upland-rice (R+V+R); and 5 - establishing treatment in the first year. In the second table is presented as a semi-quantitative vetiver hedges between rows of rubbers in- model to design spacing between tercropped with Pueraria phaseoloides) hedgerows taking into account rainfall ero- and (P + V + P) in 3 replications. Total plots sivity, soil erodibility, crop-management in- were 15, each plot (5 x 1 2 m) consisted of tensity and a minimum distance between 4 rubber seedlings. During the experimen- hedgerows of 10 m. tal period (October - December 1993) there was heavy rainfall of 1061 mm. In the con- trol treatment, amount of runoff (649.88 lit/ A Test Of Planting Vetiver Grass At Dif- m and eroded soil (3.40 t/ha.) were high- ferent Vertical Intervals Of Soil And Wa- est, and they was a significant difference ter Conservation On Sloping Land. from the remaining treatments. There were Niras Tangtumniyom, Chaichan Chalothorn no significant differences among the treat- and Piroj Prasitnork. Land Development ments of P + V, H + P, H + V + H and P + V Department, Ministry of Agricultural and Co- + P. The highest percentage of the reduc- QUIZ. operatives, Bangkok, Thailand. tion of runoff and eroded soil occurred in the treatment of H+V+P, and they were 40% US $50 to the first person to The study of planting vetiver grass at 7 dif- and 52%, respectively. Analysis of nitro- quess correctly what the ferent vertical intervals for soil and water gen (N). phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) conservation was conducted in Huay Sai in eroded soil, results showed that the re- above photo is. Send your Royal Development Centre, Petchaburi moval of N and K were significantly high- answer and some news about Province on Hup Kapong soil series at 5% est in the control treatment. The results of what you are doing with slope. It was found that when planting the tests suggested that the occurrence of vetiver to Dick Grimshaw vetiver grass at the vertical interval of 0.5, surface runoff during the rainy season

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 23 year, the control still showed the highest Vetiver — A Promising Grass For Soil The test on the use of vetiver grass with amount of soil loss with an average of Conservation In Vietnam some soil conservation and improvement 16.753 ton/ha. This was highly significant Tran Thi Tam, Thai Phien and Nguyen Tu measures for sustainability in cassava different from all other treatments. For cas- Siem. National Institute for Soils and Fer- based cropping was carried out on Nam sava grown in early rainy season, the dif- tilizers, Vietnam Pong soil series at Mahasarakam Province ferent treatments did not show any signifi- during 1993-1995. The treatments were: cant difference in the amount of soil loss in In Vietnam the upland areas account for (1) Cassava without any soil conservation the first year. However, in second year the 25 million ha, which are located mainly on or improvement measure: (2) Cassava with amount of soil loss obtained from the con- slopes of 25% to 45%. So soil erosion pre- sword bean as cover crop; (3) Cassava with trol was 44.107 ton/ha which was about six sents a real threat for agricultural pro- sword bean and vetiver grass without seed- times higher than that from the other treat- duction and environment. on the upland. bed; (4) Cassava with sword bean and ments. In another cassava plot grown near vetiver grass with seedbed; (5) Cassava the end of rainy season, the data showed Studies showed that the anti-erosive mea- with sword bean and mango in vetiver row no significant difference in the first year, sures based on imported “modern tech- without seedbed; and (6) Cassava with however, in the second year the control niques” appeared to be less acceptable by sword bean and mango in vetiver row with gave the highest soil loss with an average farmers than improved traditional ones us- seedbed. of 23.03 ton/ha. This was significantly ing living barriers. Among the plants used higher than that of the two-row of vetiver for this purpose, Vetiver is considered one The results indicated that treatment 3 and strip treatment. In these experiments it was of the most suitable one. 4 which including soil conservation by found that the yields of sugarcane, maize vetiver grass and soil improvement by and cassava in different treatments were This poster paper describes the present sword bean showed good result in reduc- not significantly different. status of Vetiver use for soil and water con- ing soil loss and increased the cassava’s servation. yield from 30 - 43% in the first year and 46 - 48% in the second year. There was a Vetiver Grass Hedgerows For Soil And Both advantages and disadvantages of this potential to plant mango in the system but Water Conservation In Tea Lands In Sri plant are also discussed based on the termites had to be controlled. Lanka — A Success Story farmer feedback and field observations. R. Navaratnam. Natural Resources Man- agement Centre. P.O. Box. 52. Dept. of In Vietnam Vetiver can be grown either from Study On Optimum Rows And Different Agriculture, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. seeds or by vetiver “splits”, but the latter Plant Spacings Of Vetiver Grass For Soil way vetiver is propagated vegetatively, by Erosion Control On Sloping Land. Soil erosion is severe in high rainfall Mid “splits” and not by seeds. Wenus Charoenrungrat, Nakorn and Upland regions of Sri Lanka where the Thawornwong, Anusornjit Sangknamarn, major crop is tea; 80% of this is seedling Vetiver is planted along the contour at 15 - Solot Sae-Lim and Surawuth Klinkhajai. tea (tea from seeds). The old ‘Up and 20 cm interval of the sloping land. The Land Development Department, Ministry of Down’ planting system adopted and ab- vetiver grass grows very fast and does not Agricultural and Cooperatives, Bangkok, sence of vegetative protection to existing compete with trees for nutrients. Within two Thailand. mechanical measures results in severe soil to tree years the plant grow together, form- erosion. Studies reveal 115 cm top soil lost ing vegetative hedge. Vetiver puts down a The experiment was conducted in Saraburi during last century. This relates to 40 MT/ dense curtain of deep roots and, being so Province during August 1993 - March 1995, Ha/yr. Unplanned land clearing causes 250 well anchored, a hedge can withstand even at about 10% slope on Muak Lek soil se- MT/Ha/yr soil loss. Land rested 2 yr. un- a shed of water flowing over it. Vetiver ries which is shallow and erosive soil. The der Managrass (Cympobogon hedge can block the passage of soil, keep treatments were comparing between with confertiflorus) without mulching results in topsoil in site limit runoff, and over time, and without vetiver grass as soil erosion 120-160 MT/Ha/yr. soil loss. New contour retard most surface erosion and in many control. The results showed that there were planted VP tea during 4 year growth exhib- cases can filter out the soil particles. significant differences in reducing soil loss its 75 MT/Ha/yr. to 20 MT/Ha/Yr. soil loss and crop yield between with and without mainly due to insufficient mulching. Since most of cropping systems on the vetiver grass, but there were not signifi- upland retrieve nitrogen amendment, grow- cantly difference in reducing soil loss and Mechanical measures are generally not ing vetiver in mixing with some leguminous crop yield among difference spacing of accepted due to high cost, repeated recon- ones is highly recommended. vetiver. struction, high maintenance, while Vetiver grass hedgerows popularly accepted due Vetiver Grass As Erosion And Land Pro- to low cost, easy application, low mainte- A Test On The Use Of Vetiver Grass With ductivity Control nance, permanency once established. No Some Soil Conservation And Improve- Syahrul Donie and R Sudradjat. Watershed detailed research done on Vetiver hedge ment Measures For Sustainability In Management Technology Center, Indone- rows in tea, but significant results visually Cassava Based Cropping (Sword Bean) sia observed in its high efficiency of soil and Chumpol Konsilp and Adul Srisupan . Land water conservation. This is proved by its Development Department, Ministry of Ag- The use of vetiver as erosion and land pro- increasing adoption by tea estates for this ricultural and Cooperatives, Bangkok, Thai- ductivity control was investigated in Boyolali purpose in Sri Lanka. land.

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 24 (Central Java) from 1990 to 1992. The among farmers and adoption of group farm- accessibility of mid-slopes. method used were: ing system are suggested. Vetiver Trials (1) Grass barrier with Vetiveria zizanioides; (2) Grass barrier with Setaria spacelata; (3) Trials with Vetiver have been conducted on Bench terrace with Setaria spacelata; and Field Reports both tailings dumps and slimes dumps at (4) Control : Bench terrace without grass several different sites. In all instances barrier. South Africa where plants were successfully estab- lished, vetiver has been found to grow vig- Those treatments used as a strip cropping orously on kimberlite spoils and met both along border line of 1500 m plot area for The Use of Vetiver grass in the mechanical and vegetative require- each treatment. Corn, Sesamur indicum the Revegetation of ments for rehabilitation. More particularly: and bean were planted for two harvesting Kimberlite Spoils in respect periods in the plot area. The result showed • Rows of vetiver planted at appropriate that the use of vetiver as a grass barrier to South African Diamond intervals contained runoff and arrested could reduce erosion of 72.7% and stream Mining. erosion. Consequently costly me- coefficient of 12.5% compared to control. Dr. M. P. S. Berry, Group Ecologist, De chanical contouring of slopes was not Moreover, corn production was increased Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd. necessary. by 104.7% at harvesting period I and 122% at harvesting period II, as for Sesamur Introduction • Deep rooting Vetiver was able to indicum, it increased by 89.3% and bean obtain sufficient moisture from production by 142.9%. Among the three Spoils from diamond mining and process- kimberlite spoils and survive extended grass barriers, only vetiver could produce ing of Kimberlite may be either a coarse drought periods. brangkasan mucuna and give the highest fraction of tailings or a fine fraction known grass height. as slimes. Tailings dumps may cover an • Vetiver withstood ground surface area of 100 to 200 ha and be as much as temperatures of more than 50˚ C in 80 meters high with a natural angle of re- summer and over wintered sub-zero Use Of Vetiver In Soil Conservation In pose of between 30˚ and 35˚. Slimes dams temperatures. The Black And Red Soil Areas Of India. may cover an area of similar size with walls P.K. Thomas. ‘Ponvanibhom’, Prasant 20 m high and a slope of 20˚. • Vetiver was well adapted to growing in Nagar Junction Medical College alkaline kimberlite soils high in P.O.,Trivandrum, Kerala, India. Kimberlite by nature is dark in color, easily sodium. weathered, high in smectite clays and may Mr. Greenfield of the World Bank initiated be high in sodium. These chemical and • Dense tall tufts of vetiver trapped the ‘Vetiver technology’ of soil and water physical characteristics make slopes of organic matter and created an ideal conservation in 1986, on the Black (Vertisol) kimberlite spoil dumps highly erodible, hos- micro-habitat (suitable substrate and and the Red (Alfisol) soils of India, which tile for pant: growth and consequently diffi- shade) for the establishment of cover more than 15 million ha of arable land cult to revegetate. The problem is further indigenous grass species. and which for generations, have been sub- exacerbated by the fact that many diamond ject to severe erosion (6 to 15 T/ha annu- mines are situated in semi-arid environ- • Vegetative propagation of vetiver ally). Since then, through a series of field ments that are subject to temperature ex- ensures that there is no threat of the studies, the characteris tics of this grass tremes and low and unpredictable rainfall. species escaping to become an exotic and the effectiveness of the technology Furthermore, some exotic plant species are weed. have been evaluated. As compared to the well adapted to these harsh conditions and existing technology (bunding), the Vetiver establish comparatively easily to the exclu- Conclusion technology was observed to reduce soil sion of preferred indigenous species. erosion up to 65 percent, reduce run off loss In conclusion vetiver has been found to from 50 to 60 percent and increase crop Vegetation trials have the necessary attributes for self-sus- yields up to 25 percent, apart from being tainable growth on kimberlite tailings dumps the cheapest. Vegetation trials with a suite of different in- and slimes dams. The species is likely to digenous grass species have been disap- play an increasingly important role in the However, even with all the ideal character- pointing. Germination tends to be low and rehabilitation of kimberlite spoils. As such istics of the plant itself and the evidences seedling mortality extremely high due to nurseries are being established at several in favor of the technology, it is not getting high ground temperatures, inadequate mines to meet expected future demand. acceptance in the officially sponsored soil moisture availability and constant erosion conservation programs in India. It is be- of substrate surface. Some success was lieved that the real causes are the exten- obtained where kimberlite spoils were top sive field coverage needed to achieve an- dressed with soil to stabilize slope and pro- nual financial targets and the reduced vide a better growth medium. However, this scope for ‘cuts’ by officials. and contrac- is extremely costly and in many instances tors. Extensive awareness campaign not possible due to the lack of soil and in-

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 25 Fiji that this new technology continues to pro- Official records show that the first Vetiver tect our environment and conserve our lim- contour hedge was established in 1952 in ited’ resources for future generations. the Penang Mill area, near Rakiraki, and Back From The Future: Do’s hedges over 40 years old are quite com- and Don’ts After 50 years of Historical Background mon in the area, but farmers have used Vetiver Utilization in Fiji. Vetiver for slope and batters stabilization Vetiver grass was first introduced to Fiji Paul N. V. Truonga and Jal S. Gawanderb for more than 50 years. from India probably late in the 1800’s to aResource Management Institute, provide thatching material for houses and Queensland Department of Primary Indus- Current Application and Effectiveness it is still being used for roofing and walls. tries, Meiers Road, Indooroopilly, of the Vetiver System in Fiji Although it was commonly used to stabi- Qld, 4068, Australia. lize embankments, terraces and to delin- bCane Research Centre, Fiji Sugar Corpo- Vetiver grass is widely used in Fiji from eate farm boundaries, its application as a ration, P.O. Box 5660, Lautoka, Fiji. simple road embankment and stream bank soil conservation measure as we know to- stabilization, to contour hedges in sugar day was developed early in the 1950’s. On Abstract cane lands, and slashed and burnt plots Viti Levu, which is the main island, the Fijian on the east coast. It is a common practice sugar industry concentrated along the west The concept of using Vetiver grass for soil for farmers to plant Vetiver to stabilize farm coast where suitable low slope land is very and water conservation purposes instead roads, across depressions, to spread and limited. As the sugar industry expanded, of conventional structures was first devel- slow down runoff water, and most often on the main sugar production company, Colo- oped for the sugar industry in Fiji more than contour lines to protect their vegetable nial Sugar Refinery (CSR) was faced with 50 years ago. The Vetiver system is now crops from rill erosion. According to local a very severe soil erosion problem on slop- widely used as a standard practice for soil farm advisers of the Penang Mill, Rakiraki, ing lands, particularly on the north western and water conservation, particularly on ‘Vetiver grass Systems’ provide a very area around Rakiraki, where the land is very small farms. The Vetiver system is very simple and practical solution to the soil ero- steep and rainfall is often of very high in- effective in erosion control and it is well ac- sion problem on small farms where both tensity. cepted that when properly implemented the educational and technological knowledge system can improve sugar cane yield up to is minimal and labor intensive activities A team of research agronomists and soil 55%. Over a 40 year period terraces dominate. conservationists including John Greenfield formed from eroded soil upslope are up to at the CSR Agricultural Experimental Sta- 1.5 m high. However farmers are now re- In all sugar cane growing areas, from the tion first tried the accepted methods - engi- luctant to implement the Vetiver system and low slope fields around Lautoka to very neered contour banks, diversion banks, in some cases are removing the well es- steep hillsides around Rakiraki, terraces leading to grassed waterways, but under tablished system, resulting in massive ero- formed by Vetiver hedges up to 1.5 m high tropical rainfall conditions these structures sion and production loss. The reasons for are quite common. These terraces were did not last a season. The search then low adoption, and in some cases rejection, formed by soil erosion upslope and subse- turned to vegetative systems. Of the 19 are complex but include socio-economic, quent trapping by Vetiver hedges plant species tested only Vetiver grass was land use policy and agronomic practices. downslope over a 25 - 40 year period. The selected and developed to an effective soil Problems associated with these issues are spacings between hedges are relatively and water conservation system. This sys- identified and possible solutions are pro- close (averaging 30 - 40 m apart). The tem was very practical and easily imple- posed. quantity of soil eroded and then trapped by mented (Fijian agricultural systems being the Vetiver hedge to form these terraces labor intensive rather than mechanized) Introduction clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of and very effective as a soil conservation the Vetiver hedge systems and the huge measure. Vetiver also conserved water in- Vetiver grass was first used for soil and soil losses that would otherwise have oc- creasing subsurface recharge as runoff wa- water conservation purpose in the Fiji sugar curred off those steeply sloping lands. ter slowly seeped through the hedge in- industry early in the 1950’s. The success stead of being diverted off the field. This of the Vetiver system is highly visible in the In general, fields protected by Vetiver greater accession to subsurface and form of 1 to 1.5m high terraces built up from hedges often have higher productivity than ground water has probably led to produc- trapped sediment on numerous canefields those unprotected by the hedges. On the tivity improvements and an improved over- on the west coast of Fiji. However, despite average, where the practice is used on all water management system with greater this highly effective means of soil and pro- steep cane lands in the Rakiraki region, stream persistence in the dry season. ductivity conservation, farmers are now re- good yields can be expected for up to 7 to luctant to implement the Vetiver system. 8 ratoon crops. The number of ratoon crops CSR rigorously enforced this soil conser- in unprotected fields is generally lower and vation technique on all sloping lands until The Fijian experience provides an ex- yields are reduced. Farm advisers attrib- the company left Fiji early in the 1970’s. tremely rare opportunity to observe with uted the loss of production to both soil and Since then this system has not been en- reality, not by modeling, but with actual water losses on unprotected fields. In a forced under the present land use policy of outcomes, what is the impact of the Vetiver simple demonstration trial, sugar cane yield the Government, despite steeper lands (up system after 50 years of application. Les- of 48 tons per ha from a field protected by to 66% slope) being used for sugar cane sons to be learnt and pitfalls avoided, so Vetiver hedges, and was reduced to 31 production.

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 26 tons per ha from unprotected fields. This tricts. For example, Vetiver hedges system Proposed Do’s represents a 55% loss in production. was recommended for farms with land slopes of 12% or more. The spacing of the From the above summary it can be seen With the clearly demonstrated benefit of the hedges was determined by soil type and that solutions to these shortcomings range Vetiver hedges in existence for the last 40 land slope. Under the present Government from fairly simple technical issues to com- years, it is of interest to note that Vetiver policy sugar mills cannot enforce these plex socio-economic ones which require has not become a weed. In addition to the guidelines, and farm advisers can only “ad- both economic resources and political will. provision of thatching materials, far mers vise” farmers to implement soil conserva- While some of these can be solved satis- still are very reluctant to establish new Ve- tion measures which are often ignored, the factorily, others will be slow and difficult to tiver hedges. In some cases they have re- few exceptions being new farmers where solve and those, which involve cultural, eth- moved old, well established hedges, result- soil conservation and other agronomic ad- nic and political issues probably can never ing in massive soil erosion and drastic re- vice is well received. be resolved satisfactorily. However if these duction in yield and within a few years the issues are known and properly dealt with once productive land was covered with 4. Inflexibility of the existing system now, most of the pitfalls mentioned above weeds and stones. Reasons given for Although the present system still provides can be avoided. these actions varied but the central theme a very effective water conservation method, pointed to these three concerns: it was designed over 40 years ago when If the Fijian experience can be used as a the main power source was draught ani- model, the following three issues deserve • Vetiver hedges take up too much land; mals. As farming practices have increas- utmost and urgent attention: • terraces formed by the hedges hinder ingly relied on modern technology, includ- farm machinery operation; and ing farm machinery, the existing system in Research, Development and Extension. • the hedges sometimes harbor pests general can cause hindrance to farming op- The conventional engineering soil and wa- such as rats. erations. For example, draught animals can ter conservation systems such as contour walk around or climb over an overgrown and diversion banks, and waterways etc. On closer examination, the real reasons are hedge and terrace, whereas tillage and har- have been adopted and implemented probably more complex than these three vesting machinery can not. Redistribution worldwide for a long time, but these sys- superficial concerns. of trapped sediment upslope is a major tems still require continuing research, de- task, if it is done manually but with the avail- velopment and extension efforts to improve 1. Land shortage. After 40 years where ability of tractors the job can be carried out and to gain farmers acceptance. Likewise, hedges were not properly maintained, the much faster. a new concept and technology such as the single row of Vetiver spread from 0.3 - 0.4 Vetiver system will need these supports for m to more than 2.5m width. Depending on 5. Lack of development and extension a long time. Some of the topics that have the land slope and the original spacing, support. There has been very little sup- to be taken into account are: cropping areas sometimes were reduced port to assist farmers in overcoming prob- to 4 - 5 m between hedges. In addition the lems associated with the implementation • Suitable cultivars. There are a vast trapped sediment formed terraces up to l.5 of the Vetiver hedge system. The three number of different species, sub-species m high, hindering farm machinery opera- major concerns expressed by farmers, of the Vetiveria genus, and an enormous tions. As with other developing nations, Fiji namely the loss of productive land, hin- range of V. zizanioides cultivars that are is faced with a severe shortage of agricul- drance to machinery operation and harbor- grown worldwide. They should be tural lands, so it is obvious and understand- ing pests, can be all resolved if an effec- screened and selected for various applica- able that farmers are concerned about the tive hedge maintenance program was car- tions. The Thai Department of Land De- loss of productive land, where the cropping ried out. If the hedges were trimmed and velopment has done an excellent job in col- area of an average sugar cane farm is only accumulated sediment was redistributed lecting and screening more than 40 Vetiver 4 ha. every few years, the spreading of the cultivars and species for regional applica- hedges and the build up of terrace would tions, but it is suggested that they should 2. Land ownership. In addition to land be very effectively controlled. As a result go one step further by selecting suitable shortage, land ownership is also an impor- of the above actions, thin and well trimmed cultivars for different crops and applica- tant issue. Under the present system, most hedges are less likely to harbor rats and tions. For example shade tolerant cultivars Fijian farm lands belong to the Native Land other pests. In addition, the general ex- are needed for tree crop and orchards, tol- Trust Board which administers the lease of tension effort regarding the benefit and erance to salt and heavy metal toxicities the land to farmers for agricultural use. As impact of a soil conservation system such for land reclamation, non-seeding cultivars the case of most lease land, farmers are as Vetiver hedges has been very limited for agricultural crops, fast regrowth and tol- not often very receptive to long term soil due to the shortage of well trained exten- erance to grazing pressure for pastures and conservation measures where benefits are sion staff. rot resistance for thatching, just to mention not often apparent in the short run. a few. In short the selection program needs In summary, the pitfalls DON’TS listed to be purpose-oriented. 3. Land use policy. Under the CSR above range from technical (Research, policy, sugar mills enforced strict land use Development and Extension) to political • Propagation and Establishment. Al- guidelines. Mills only accepted sugar cane (Land Use policy) and socio-economic is- though potting gives excellent results, it is from farms that implemented soil conser- sues (land shortage and ownership). slow and costly and should be limited to vation guidelines recommended for the dis- high value projects to ensure fast, reliable

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 27 establishment and growth. Direct planting and adaptability of Vetiver grass. But most success, continued input into the develop- is the method farmers would prefer, and it importantly, the final application and layout ment and adaptation of the system to should receive full research, development should be a compromise between farmers’ changing needs of various agricultural in- and extension attention. Detailed guide- needs and the recommended standard de- dustries is required. lines such as slip size, age, hormone treat- sign. ment, soil moisture, seasonal conditions Reference (rainfall and temperature). Obviously dif- Land Use Policy. ferent guidelines are needed for different Truong, P.N.V., Creighton, C. (1994). “Re- crops and applications. Lessons drawn from the Fijian experience port on the Potential Weed Problem of Ve- strongly indicate that a firm land use policy tiver Grass and its Effectiveness in Soil Ero- • Maintenance. In. the long term, main- is required for long term success. As sion Control in Fiji”. Division Land Man- tenance is the most important aspect which pointed out above, when CSR was respon- agement Report, Queensland Department greatly influence the acceptance of the Ve- sible for a large part of the sugar industry of Primary Industries, Australia. tiver by farmers. As mentioned previously in Fiji in the 1950’s strict soil conservation the concerns expressed by Fijian farmers guidelines were applied. CSR sugar mills relate to the lack of a proper maintenance only accepted crops from farmers that com- program. For example, for sugar cane crop, plied with the company guidelines. With Zimbabwe Fijian farm advisers recommend that well trained and a supportive team of farm hedges should be slashed twice a year, one advisers,farmers were happy to implement The Hippo Valley Estates early in the wet season to encourage these guidelines and CSR was able to growth and once towards the end of the maintain the productivity of these highly Magudu Vetiver wet or the beginning of the dry season to erodible lands. Outreach Project remove excess material which encourages rats. Trimming is required every 3, 4 years Land use policy guidelines need to be de- The Vetiver Outreach Project is perhaps and trapped top soil should be spread up veloped for each agricultural industry such the most, shining example of what purpose- hill during replanting (5-7 years). Alterna- as sugar cane, rice, horticultural crops, ful environmental conservation can tively, every second hedge can be taken pastures etc. taking into account topo- achieve. The Magudu area through which out, trapped top soil respread, and replant graphic, edaphic, rainfall erosivity charac- the Tokwane irrigation water flows, has Vetiver with each cane replant cycle. The teristics as well as the farming practice of through this project, been transformed into maintenance guidelines should also include each region. When properly developed and a lush green water course over a very short recommended methods of controlling un- supported by extensive extension/educa- space of time. Communal farmers have wanted Vetiver plants. Again maintenance tion program, most farmers would accept been introduced to this scheme and they programs need to be developed for each it. However, to be effective, legislative sup- are very enthusiastic about the benefits it application. port is often required. For example, to ob- will produce. tain a contract to grow sugar cane on lands • Design layout for various crops and with slope exceeding 15%, farmers in For the benefit of those who are not abreast applications. Design layout should be flex- southern Queensland, Australia, have to with current affairs in this area, the Vetiver ible enough to take into account different implement green cane harvesting, trash Outreach Project is a soil conservation cropping practices and regional variations. retention practices — a soil conservation project which is being implemented on the Wherever possible likely future changes in practice where the crop is mechanically Tokwane River in the neighboring Magudu practice and crop production should also harvested unburnt and retaining the trash Area. The aim of this project is to plant be considered. In addition, having under- all year round. the fast growing vetiver grass on the river stood the function and potential of Vetiver banks to pr event soil from being lost hedges, its applications should be extended Land ownership. This involves’ the highly through erosion. lt. is hoped that the com- to other non-conventional areas, both in volatile socio-ethnic-economic-political is- munal farmers will learn from this project agricultural and non agricultural sectors, sues associated with any land reform pro- and implement it in their own areas. The such as mine rehabilitation, water quality gram which require firm commitment from benefits of this environmental conservation improvement and toxic wastes manage- political leaders. It will be slow and difficult, scheme are tremendous, and in particular ment. A good example of a further appli- but it should be considered as a long term the people in Magudu will receive more ef- cation in soil and water conservation, the goal. People will be more willing to take fective rainfall when there is less runoff, but Thai Department of Land Development better care of properties they own, particu- greater infiltration. work on the incorporation of Vetiver into a larly in societies where land ownership is Leuceana-pigeon peas alley cropping sys- linked with cultural and spiritual values. This project started early this year. As part tem and water harvesting design for fruit of the necessary groundwork, the local trees in Chiang Rai. Conclusion Chief, the District Administrator and Agitex officials were informed about this project, • Extension. An extensive extension ser- Although the Vetiver soil and water conser- and they all agreed that this is a good vice is needed to ensure long term success. vation system has clearly demonstrated its project. The land was surveyed and Mr. Extension staff should not only be compe- effectiveness and benefit to the sugar in- Muyangani’s 3.4 hectare plot was identi- tent in soil erosion and sediment control dustry in Fiji, its acceptance by farmers is fied as the most suitable site for the project. matters but also in the agronomy, tolerance not guaranteed. To ensure its long term The perimeter and contours were pegged,

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 28 plantings of vetiver grass in Simbu in l993/ 94. The slips were planted at 30 to 50 cm centers in straight lines across the gardens, most of which have slopes over 40% The lines were not planted on the contour. Slips that died were not replaced. Few of the clumps of grass in these plantings have formed complete hedges and many gaps still remain. Their effectiveness in prevent- ing soil loss has been minimal. The growth rate of the grass was satisfactory on fertile soils, but slow on shallow soils. Little fol- low up extension was given to farmers to encourage them to persist with the grass or manage it in any way as DAL Extension Officers were provided with few resources for this purpose.

CARE Australia’s program with vetiver grass extension since June 1994.

Photo 9: Vetiver hedges on small farmers fields near Zomba, Malawi. Note that the field The Simbu Agroforestry and Land Use cultrivation is also on the contour. Project, is managed by CARE Australia on Photo credit: Glenn Allison behalf of the Australian Government Aid Agency, Aus Aid. One of it’s components and a stretch of 1400 meters was planted cal people with a source of seed to plant. is to investigate ways to use vetiver in gar- dens in the Province. After a review of the with vetiver grass when the first rains fell in February. Two local people were then em- literature, observation of the plots already Papua New Guinea ployed to water the young grass using 20 established, and discussions with officers litre tins to carry water from the nearby dam, of the DAL and village farmers, a vetiver and all the grass which was planted germi- The Establishment and Man- grass extension program was commenced. nated, survived and in fact even started agement of Vetiver Grass On-farm plots were established and follow- up extension visits are made on a regular catching the top soil when heavy rains fell within the Traditional Garden shortly after the planting. basis. System of Papua New Our primary objective in this project is to Guinea. The extension message is constantly re- viewed in the light of the increasing practi- teach the communal farmers to conserve R.M. Shelton. CARE, Australia, Simbu cal experience. Texts in Tok Pigin, a com- soil, and indications are that many have Agroforestry and land Use Project, PNG been sold to the idea. A few have however monly spoken language throughout PNG, are being prepared to provide farmers with appreciated the project. more because it Vetiver grass was introduced to PNG in the information about all aspects of vetiver will produce a good supply of grass for late 1980’s and established on a Depart- grass culture and management. thatching than the fact that it will help in ment of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL) environmental conservation. This may be Research Station in the coastal lowlands. The extension methods used. the other motive, but Hippo is not deterred All the planting material used in the PNG and it will continue to reach out to the Highlands originated from this plot. Nurs- • The extension effort emphasizes the people as the name of the project. implies. ery blocks were established on Govern- grass’s likely benefits to the farmer ment Stations in a number of rural areas of and to the gardening system. No In the next stage, Hippo will supply “seed” Simbu Province by Extension Officers of funding is allocated by Government or to the local Agritex official who will set up a the Provincial Department of Primary In- SALUP to provide incentives for 0.1 ha vetiver grass nursery in his irriga- dustries (DPI). To date, the only on-farm farmers to plant the grass. tion scheme and hopefully provide the lo- plantings of vetiver grass in the highlands have been in about 40 gardens in Simbu • Few farmers have access to capital for Province. the purchase of inputs such as fertilizer, or labor. Establishment and Vetiver grass extension in Simbu Prov- management methods that need no ince prior to 1994. cash and little extra labor are empha- sized. There was little information available on the culture of vetiver grass to the DAL Exten- • Farmers are taken to visit already sion Officers who made the first on-farm established plots, on-farm field days

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 29 and discussions are held, radio version drain itself does not cause erosion too narrow a space to crop and a compro- programs on vetiver grass are broad- at its outlet. mise must be made between the ideal and casts, and follow up farm visits are the practical. On the steeper plots farmers made so that farmers have all the Contouring: The vetiver grass slips should have accepted vertical intervals of up to 3 information they need to incorporate be planted on the contour if possible. Some m. the grass into their garden system washing of soil has been noticed from high successfully. points to low points along terraces about 1 Planting m wide, formed behind hedges that were • Farmers are supplied with limited not planted on the contour. As the hedges Season Planting of vetiver grass should amounts of free planting material and are likely to last for many years and form take place early in the wet season, if pos- encouraged to establish their own sizable terraces, the extra trouble taken to sible. Vetiver grass hedges have been nurseries as existing nursery areas mark out contours during the initial estab- planted throughout the year. While most are small. lishment is considered worthwhile and does slips survive when planted during periods not need to be repeated in later years as of drought (usually less than 3 weeks in • Papua New Guineans are very the hedges are permanent. Lines of crop PNG), their growth is minimal and some innovative gardeners and will adapt plants will also be planted parallel to the deaths occur. Slips planted when there is and adopt worthwhile new technolo- hedges, on the contour and will contribute regular rain establish much faster. gies to suit their situation, if they have to erosion control. The contour can be all the information they need. marked out using a simple “A” Frame. It is Timing in the gardening cycle Planting a technology that can be mastered by lo- of the vetiver grass in a garden should take • Women have a major role in garden cal gardeners, with minimum of training. place just before the crop is planted. At management. and all extension effort this time conditions are ideal for quick es- must include them. Soil retention barriers tablishment of the grass as competition from weeds is at a minimum, and the farmer Recommendations for establishment and Soil retention barriers are a useful tool when can observe the grass regularly when car- management of the grass. establishing vetiver grass, particularly in ing for the crop. By the time the garden is very steep gardens. These barriers are fallowed the grass should be well estab- Preparations prior to planting. built after the initial clearing of the garden lished so that it can compete successfully and before planting of the crop. They are with invading volunteer species and still be Diversion drain: If there is a long slope temporary structures that rot within 6 to 9 present when the garden is re cultivated. without tree cover above it diversion drains months of their construction, when soil ac- should be dug to protect the garden from cumulated on their up-slope side is nor- Vetiver grass can be planted into stands of large flows of surface runoff that may run mally lost down the slope. Vetiver grass Kunai (Imperata cylindrica) (the most com- across it while the grass is establishing it- slips are provided with an ideal seed bed mon local grass) by cultivating a narrow self. Serious loss of soil and landslides for their establishment when they are strip where the slips are to be planted. occurred in a number of gardens which had planted in this accumulated soil and their Kunai is an aggressive species and while no protection from this type of surface run- roots prevent it’s loss when the barrier rots. most of the vetiver grass survives, its off. The hedges were still in the establish- Some gardeners, against recommenda- growth is very slow unless the kunai is regu- ment phase. It is likely that less damage tions by SALUP, planted the vetiver grass larly cut. Few farmers are prepared to in- would have occurred to the garden if diver- hedges on the lower side of the soil reten- vest the time and effort required. It is also sion drains had been dug above them. tion barriers. Grass growth was satisfac- difficult to separate the kunai from the Care must be taken to ensure that the di- tory, but when the barrier rotted, soil held vetiver grass when the garden is cultivated by the barrier fell on top of the grass and later. As very little erosion occurs in estab- some was lost down the slope. It is too lished stands of kunai, there appears to be early yet to determine if the grass will sur- no advantage in planting vetiver grass into vive this treatment. They are most effec- such swards. Established hedges should tive if they are established on the contour be able to compete successfully with kunai at 2 m vertical intervals. that grows during the fallow period.

Vertical interval between hedges Spacing The effectiveness of vetiver grass in controlling erosion depends largely on QUIZ. The ideal is to plant the lines of vetiver grass it’s ability to form a complete hedge with- at no more than 2 m vertical interval. I f the out gaps, across the slope. If the gaps be- vertical interval between hedges is more tween the clumps of vetiver grass are to $30 to the first person to quess than 2 m, the velocity of runoff water on close quickly, under conditions in Simbu, correctly what and where the steep slopes during heavy rain is likely to the slips must be planted at no more than above scene is. Send your an- cause heavy rilling and scouring which can 10 cm centers. Given reasonable growing swer and some news about what lead to land slides in extreme cases. A 2 conditions, most of the gaps will close within m. vertical interval on a 45% slope allows 12 months. Slips planted at 30 to 50 cm you are doing with vetiver to Dick a surface distance of only 2.8 m between centers still have gaps after 2.5 years of Grimshaw hedges. Most gardeners consider this is growth.

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 30 Mulching A mulch of leaves, dead grass, in the hedge that die should be replaced Much has been learnt in the last three and etc. should be placed around the slips when as soon as possible. The gaps left in the a half years but more experience must be they are planted, particularly in dry weather. hedge take a long time close up as replace- gained before a definitive answer about the The mulch prevents the soil from drying out, ment slips suffer from heavy competition place of vetiver grass in the traditional gar- keeps the surface cool, retains some soil, from already established clumps if replant- den system can be given. Villagers from and generally improves conditions for the ing is not done quickly. Trimming existing one of the areas where the vetiver grass establishment of the grass. clumps will help. Ensuring that the original has been planted said, when they were in- planting material is of good quality will re- terviewed recently, that they needed to Use of leguminous coppices A line of duce the number of dead slips. To date, observe the grass for a longer period be- Leucaena spp. trees, which will be no culms over 20 cm long, that could be fore they were prepared to form a definite coppiced when they have grown, planted used layered in these gaps, have been ob- opinion about it’s usefulness. However, parallel to the vetiver grass hedge, will help served on any clumps. requests for vetiver grass planting mate- to improve soil fertility in the garden. The rial continue to be received from other farm- trees which have been planted at 50 cm Trimming Occasional trimming of the ers in this area, and most seem confident centers in a line 50 cm to 1 m from the hedge will increase the number of tillers in that it will be a useful tool in making sure hedge, have a threefold benefit. They con- the clumps of grass. A simple experiment that their children will inherit land suitable tribute nitrogen directly to the soil from their to test the effect of trimming the leaves of for growing their future food needs. roots and indirectly through the coppiced clumps at 10 cm above the ground was material which is used as a mulch, their conducted. It indicated that tillering in- Vetiver grass has a place within the gar- roots help to hold the soil on steep slopes, creased significantly as a result of cutting. dening system, but will only be one of a and the trunks and larger branches of the The trimmed leaves can be used as mulch number of technologies that must be mo- plants can be used for firewood or construc- or as thatch. The large majority of houses bilized to ensure that crops will continue to tion timber. The traditional nitrogen fixing in rural areas still have thatched roofs. be produced given the extreme terrain en- tree used in PNG is Casuarina oligodon. It countered in this region of the world. cannot survive coppicing, though it can be Landslips Miracles are needed, vetiver could well be pollarded. Its use is generally as a tree one of them. cover/soil improver during longer fallow pe- After prolonged periods of rain in steep riods. Coppicing is a new technique in the gardens some vetiver grass hedges have References. Highlands and more research needs to be been lost through land slips. Experience in done into the best species and methods to Simbu is too recent to know how effective Bourke, R. M. (May 1990). Subsistence use. An extension program will be needed the grass will be in preventing landslides Agriculture In North Simbu, Papua New if it is to gain widespread acceptance as a once it has a fully developed root system. Guinea . Paper prepared for: Simbu Pro- worthwhile practice. The soil in many gardens overlays rock or vincial Government; Australian International clay, conditions that restrict root growth and Development Assistance Bureau, Hedge Maintenance. are highly conducive to land slides, particu- Canberra: International Fund for Agricul- larly when the soil is saturated. tural Development, Rome. Tropical Agricul- Replacement of slips that die Any slips tural Consultants Pty. Ltd., Canberra, Aus- The future for vetiver grass. tralia.

Scott, R. M., Healey, P. A., and Humphreys, G. S. (1985). Land Units of Chimbu Prov- ince Papua New Guinea. Natural Re- sources Series No.5. Division of Water and Land Resources. Institute of Biological Re- sources, Commonwealth Scientific and In- dustrial Organisation, Australia.

Wohlt, P. B., and Goie, A (1986). North Simbu Land Use. Research Report of the Simbu Land Use Project, Volume V. Insti- tute of Applied Social and Economic Re- search, Port Moresby.

Photo 10: Filter strips in a quarry in Queensland, Australia, filtering sediment from water being discharged into a dam. Photo: Credit Paul Truong

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 31 and hostile conditions of the coarse grav- Wave erosion control: Australia elly ground, Vetiver established well (with NPK fertilizer) and started trapping debris Being able to establish and thrive under Effectiveness Of The Vetiver from upslope. The stiff stems of Vetiver waterlogged conditions, Vetiver has proved Hedges In Soil Erosion And provided a very effective barrier trapping to be very effective in reducing erosion debris and rocks up to 70 mm in diameter. caused by wave action on big farm dam Sediment Control In Twelve months later the old gravelly slope walls. The erosion caused by wave action Queensland was 75% covered with local vegetation on the inside wall of a ve ry big farm dam Paul Truong, D.E. Baker and between the rows of Vetiver hedges which near Cloncurry was effectively controlled I.H.Christiansen. Resource Management had grown to 1- 2 m tall. Eighteen months by establishing a Vetiver hedge along the Institute, QDPI, Indoorrrpilly, Queensland, later the slope was completely stabilized high water mark. Australia. and revegetated with Vetiver and other lo- cal species including a pasture legume Rehabilitation of mining waste and con- A large number of field trials were carried (Stylosanthes). taminated land: out to verify the effectiveness of Monto Ve- tiver in soil erosion and sediment control in Filter strips: With its very wide range of tolerance to Queensland. The followings are results to adverse soil conditions such as pH, soil date of some case studies: When established across drainage lines salinity and mineral including heavy metal and water courses, Vetiver hedges filter and toxicities, Vetiver is highly suitable for the Steep slope stabilization: trap both coarse and fine sediment result- rehabilitation of mining waste and contami- ing in cleaner runoff water. At Excel Quarry nated lands. Early results have shown that Embankment of both cut and fill slopes can north of Brisbane, Vetiver was used to sta- Vetiver is the most promising species grown be effectively stabilized by establishing Ve- bilize steep slopes of overburden and wa- on coal mine tailing in Central Queensland tiver on contour lines. The deep root sys- terways. When planted across a long (500 (Radloff pers. comm.). tem stabilizes the slope while the hedges m) and steep (20%) waterway, Vetiver reduce runoff, increase infiltration and trap hedges stopped the erosion on the water- CONCLUSION sediment providing a very favorable envi- way floor and trapped both coarse and fine ronment for the colonization by local vol- sediment in runoff water from this working With its wide ranging tolerance of adverse unteer species. This is well illustrated in the quarry. On another waterway leading to a climatic and edaphic conditions the Vetiver following two examples. dam, Vetiver hedges trapped most fine hedge system offers a simple and low cost sediment resulting in less polluted water in alternative to constructed soil erosion and A very steep (1:1) and highly erodible sodic the dam. Following the success of these sediment control measures. soil on a railway embankment near Cairns trials, Vetiver is now being used as a stan- collapsed and needed to be rebuilt after al- dard method of trapping sediment and land On disturbed lands, where conventional most every wet season. Obviously, the so- stabilization at the quarry. methods of stabilization and reclamation lution to this problem is a very costly engi- are limited and costly, the Vetiver system neering structure. As a trial, six rows of Gully stabilization: offers a unique means of rehabilitation of Vetiver were established on mini benches these highly erodible lands. (0.25m wide) on the slope at l m VI (Verti- Vetiver hedges are very effective in stabi- cal Interval). A total of approximately 250 lizing gully erosion. When planted on con- More specifically with its high level of toler- m embankment was stabilized with Vetiver tour line above gully head, Vetiver hedges ance to extreme soil pH, soil salinity, Al and in June 1992. The Vetiver established and will spread and slow down runoff water and Mn toxicities, Monto Vetiver has great po- grew well despite the dry season and by stop the advancement of gully heads. This tential for reclamation work in mining and December 1992, the slope was reasonably is well illustrated at a number of gullies in other industrial waste and contaminated stabilized by the young Vetiver plants and both cropping and grazing lands. Follow- lands. local species began to establish between ing the control of active erosion at the gully the Vetiver rows. In March 1993, nine heads, gully floors are normally revegetated months later, the slope was completely cov- naturally with native species. Effects of Heavy Metals ered with local vegetation between the Ve- Toxicities on Vetiver Growth tiver hedges. Fifteen months later the em- On large and long gullies where active ero- bankment was completely stabilized with sion occurs both on gully floors and walls, Paul N.V. Truong and Jeromy Claridge. a mixture of Vetiver and mature local grass Vetiver hedges established on gully floor Resource Management Institute, species. This embankment has withstood will reduce flow velocity, trap sediment and Queensland Department of Primary In- up to the last three wet seasons. reduce further erosion on the floor. At dustries, Indooroopilly, Qld, 4068, Austra- Ashall Creek, a very large gully system in lia. On another site, an old quarry at Henlies the black earth on the Darling Downs, more Hill in Cairns where the old rubble surface than 0.3m of sediment was trapped by a Abstract has remained bare of vegetation since the series of 17 hedges over an area more than quarry operation stopped five years earlier. 400 m long and 50 m wide during the 1994 Environmentalists are increasingly con- Four rows of Vetiver, established on an 80% summer. cerned with problems caused by contami- slope at 1 m VI. Despite the extremely poor nated land to the environment. Land con-

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 32 taminated by these elements.

Introduction

In recent years, environmentalists have been increasingly critical of the contami- nation of the environment by by-products of industrial and mining industries. The majority of these contaminations have been caused by high levels of heavy metals which can affect flora, fauna and human population living in areas in the vicinity of or downstream from the contaminated sites. Table 1 shows the levels of heavy metals required environmental and health investigations set out by the Australian and New Zealand authorities.

These concerns have resulted in strict guidelines to prevent the spreading of these contaminations and in some cases have delayed and even stopped some industrial and mining projects, until appropriate meth- Photo 11: Queensland, Australia. Rehabilitation of toxic municipal waste dump us- ods of decontamination / rehabilitation are ing vetiver grass. implemented. High levels of heavy metals Photo credit: Paul Truong in the by products are unavoidable but they must be contained or at least preventing from spreading downstream. taminated by heavy metals, as results of ance to a number of heavy metals com- mining and industrial and urban wastes, mon in mining and industrial wastes in The usual methods of decontamination are require effective erosion and sediment con- Queensland. Results indicate that Vetiver to treat the contaminants chemically or to trol measures to stop its offsite pollution. is highly tolerant to high arsenic, cadmium, physically remove them from sites. Both Vetiver grass which is known to have high chromium, copper and nickel levels in the methods are often expensive and at time tolerance levels to some extreme soil and soil. Therefore Vetiver is highly suitable for impos sible to carry out as the volume of climatic conditions, is tested for its toler- the rehabilitation/reclamation of lands con- contaminated materials can be very large, as in the case of gold and coal mine tail- ings. Table 1: Investigation Thresholds For Contaminants In Soils Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Assessment and Management of Con- If these wastes cannot be economically taminated Sites, January 1992 (ANZECC/NHMRC) treated or removed, they must be prevented from spreading out. Wind and water erosions and leaching are the usual THRESHOLDS (mg/kg) causes of off-site contaminations. There- fore, an effective erosion and sediment HEAVY METALS Environmental Healthbased control program is needed and rehabilita- Investigation Investigation tion with suitable vegetation is the most practical and economical method. How- Antimony (Sb) 20 - ever, revegetation on these sites are often Barium (Ba) - - very difficult and slow due to their highly Cadmium (C) 3 2 adverse growing conditions including toxic Chromium (Cr) 50 - levels of heavy metals. Cobalt (Co) - - Copper (Cu) 60 - As Vetiver is capable of growing in a wide Lead (Pb) 300 300 range of adverse conditions such as tox- Manganese (Mn) 500 - icities of Al and Mn, highly acidic, alkaline, Mercury (Hg) 1 - saline and sodic conditions, this trial was Molybdenum (Mo) - - set up to establish its tolerance to a num- Nickel (Ni) 60 - ber of heavy metals commonly occurred in Tin (Sn) 50 - mining and industrial wastes in Australia. Zinc (Zn) 200 - These include arsenic, cadmium, chro- mium, copper and nickel

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 33 metals can affect plant Table 4: Toxicity Levels In The Soil Of Some Table 2: Treatment Levels And Chemicals growth by interfering with Heavy Metals (Baker And Eldershaw, 1993). Used enzyme activities or pre- venting the absorption of Heavy Metals Toxic Threshold(ppm) Treatment Heavy Metals ppm essential nutrients. Many Arsenic 2.0 plants are sensitive to Cadmium 1.5 As(1) Cd(2) Cr(3) Cu(4) heavy metals, those Nickel 7.0 - 10.0 Ni(S) which are tolerant are Control 0 0000 1 100 5 50 25 100 2 250 10 10 50 200 Table 5: Dry Matter Yield Of Vetiver As Affected By Various Levels Of 3 500 20 200 100 300 Arsenic In The Soil 4 750 60 600 200 400 5 - 120 - - 500 Soil Concentration (ppm) Dry Matter Yield (g/pot) Relative Yield (%) Control 0 43.85 a* 100 (1) As Di sodium methyl arsenate (DSMA) 100 43.51 a 99 (2) As Cadmium sulphate (Cd S04) 250 18.93 b 43 (3) As Dipotassium chromate (K2CrO4) 500 5.56 c 13 (4) As Copper Sulphate (Cu S04) 750 0d 0 (5) As Nickel Chloride 9NiC12) LSD (5%) 2.95

* Treatments with the same letters are not significantly different.

Materials and Methods In general, results of this series of trial indi- generally tolerant of most heavy metals. A pot trial was carried out under glass cate that Vetiver is highly tolerant to this Tolerant plants can be divided into three house conditions over a period of 10 weeks. group of heavy metals. In a hydroponic trial, groups (Robbetal. 1983): Table 2 shows the treatment levels in the Bowen (1979) found that most vascular soil of the five heavy metals used. These plants are highly sensitive to heavy metals • excluder, plants with restricted levels were chosen as they represent the toxicity (Table 3). Baker and Eldershaw transport range com monly found in contaminated (1993) also reported very low toxic thresh- sites in Queensland.

A complete nutrient solution was applied at the beginning and after 5 weeks to en- Table 6: Dry Matter Yield Of Vetiver As Affected By Various Levels Of sure adequate supply of nutrients to Ve- Cadmium In The Soil. tiver growth. A close system was used and pots were watered to field capacity daily Soil Concentration (ppm) Dry Matter Yield (g/pot) Relative Yield (%) with de-ionized water. Tops and roots were Control 0 43.8 a* 100 harvested for yield and chemical analyses. 5 37.86 a 86 10 34.08 a 78 Results and Discussion 20 33.50 a 76 60 21.06 b 48 Heavy metals are generally found naturally 120 12.24 c 28 only at very low concentrations. Elevated LSD (5%) 11.59 concentrations are commonly associated with pollution from human activities. Heavy * Treatments with the same letters are not significantly different.

Table 3: Toxic Thresholds Of The Heavy Metals Used In This old levels in the soil for As, Cd and Ni (Table • index plants 4). Trial Under Hydroponic Conditions (Bowen, 1979). are those reflect soil concentration Although no distinctive symptoms were re- corded in this trial, leaf tips of all affected Heavy Metals Toxic Thresholds to Plant Growth (ppm) • accumula- Arsenic 0.02 - 7.5 plants became chlorotic first and the chlo- tion species rosis gradually spread to the whole leaf. In Cadmium 0.2 - 9.0 which have Chromium 0.5 - 10.0 the cases of As and Cd the leaf tips first higher concentra- became red then chlorotic. Copper 0.5 - 8.0 tion than the soil Nickel 0.5 - 2.0

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 34 Arsenic: Results shown in Table 5 shows that Ve- Table 8: Effects Of Soil Copper Levels On Vetiver Growth. tiver yield was significantly reduced when soil arsenic level is at 250 ppm and higher. Soil Concentration (ppm) Dry Matter Yield (g/pot) Relative Yield (%) Although these results did not establish the Control 0 20.53 a* 100 exact toxic thresh old level for Vetiver, which 25 17.89 a 87 is most likely between 100 and 250 ppm, 50 18.87 a 92 this level is extremely high as compared 100 11.42 b 56 with the threshold of 0.02 - 7.5 ppm (Tables 150 4.58 c 22 3 and 4). As arsenic soil levels at 20 ppm 200 3.80 c 19 and 100 ppm may require rehabilitation LSD (5%) 5.54 (Table 1). Vetiver is a highly suitable spe- cies for reclaiming these sites. * Treatments with the same letters are not significantly different.

Literature indicated that high level of As in the plant interferes with S and P metabo- shown in Table 3. ever, reasonable growth (56%) continued lism (Kabata and Pendias, 1984). at soil Cu level of 100 ppm. Sites with soil Vetiver is therefore highly suitable for rec- Cu level at 60 ppm may require rehabilita- Cadmium lamation of Cr contaminated lands as sites tion (Table 1). with soil levels at 50 ppm may require re- Although results from Table 6 indicates that habilitation (Table 1). Nickel Vetiver growth was significantly affected by soil Cd level at and higher than 20 ppm Copper Although Nickel is considered a trace ele- which is extremely high as compared with ment for most plants and is a constituent the threshold shown in Tables 3 and 4. Copper is a micro nutrient for plant, but it is of the important enzyme urease, but it is extremely toxic to plant at high concentra- tion (Kabata and Pendias, 1984). Baker Table 7: Effects Of Soil Chromium Levels On Vetiver Growth and Eldershaw (1993) reported the toxic threshold level of Ni in the soil is between Soil Concentration (ppm) Dry Matter Yield (g/pot) Relative Yield (%) 7 and 10 ppm for most plants, but from our Control 0 33.29a* 100 trials, 58% of growth can still be obtained 50 28.71 a 81 at the soil level of 100 ppm. At this level 100 34.64 a 98 Vetiver is highly suitable for the rehabilita- 200 25.80 a 73 tion of Ni contaminated lands which has 60 600 4.68 b 13 ppm of Ni or higher (Table 1). LSD (5%) 10.75 General Discussion and Conclusion * Treatments with the same letters are not significantly different. Although results of chemical analyses of plant material are not available at the time Although at much reduced growth (48%), highly toxic to plant at higher levels in the of preparing this paper, yield data have Vetiver maintained slow but continual soil. Results of Table 8 indicate that the clearly demonstrated that Vetiver is highly growth at 60 ppm. At this level Vetiver can critical toxic level for Vetiver is between 50 tolerant to this group of heavy metals and be established in most contaminated indus- and 100 ppm which is very high compared therefore a highly suitable species for the trial wastes and gold mine tailing with the with the threshold shown in Table 3. How- rehabilitation of contaminated lands. highest Cd contamination in Queensland.

These results again indicated that Vetiver’s highly suitable for rehabilitation of Cd con- Table 9: Effects Of Soil Nickel Levels On Vetiver Growth. taminated land as sites with soil levels of 3 ppm and 20 ppm may require rehabilita- Soil Concentration (ppm) Dry Matter Yield (g/pot) Relative Yield (%) tion (Table 1). Control 0 35.29 a* 100 100 20.56 b 58 Chromium: 200 3.21 c 9 300 7.32 c 21 Table 7 shows Vetiver growth is not signifi- 400 1.31 c 4 cantly affected until soil Cr exceeds 200 500 0.90 c 3 ppm and the toxic threshold level is be- LSD (5%) 10.01 tween 200 and 600 ppm. This level is ex- traordinary high as compared with the * Treatments with the same letters are not significantly different. threshold of between 0.5 and 10.0 ppm

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 35 Results of chemical analyses will establish Resistance Of Vetiver Grass matoes were mature. Roots washed free whether Vetiver is an excluder an index of soil were immersed in a 1% NaOCl so- plant or an accumulator. If Vetiver is an To Infection By Root-Knot lution for three minutes and eggs were col- index plant or an accumulator with high Nematodes (Meloidogyne lected on a 38µm sieve and counted. level of heavy metals in the shoots, then Spp) the use of Vetiver in the rehabilitation of Lynette West1, Graham Stirling 1, Paul Results and Discussion the contaminated sites will have certain im- Truong2 plications. 1Plant Protection Unit, Queensland Depart- Both Vetiver varieties were highly resistant ment of Primary Industries, 80 Meiers to all five root-knot nematode populations. On the positive side, Vetiver will not only Road, Reproduction was approximately 1000-fold provide a very effective means of erosion Indooroopilly, Queensland 4068 less than on the susceptible tomato. Ve- and sediment control at these sites, when 2 Resource Management Institute, tiver also compared favorably with other harvested and removed from the sites and Queensland Department of Primary Indus- grasses that have been found to be resis- disposed off safely elsewhere, the level of tries, 80 Meiers Road, Indooroopilly, tant to root-knot nematode in similar tests. heavy metals in the soil can be gradually Queensland 4068 Our results confirmed those of de Moura lowered with time. et al (1990) who found that Vetiver was “im- Introduction mune” to both M. incognita race 1 and M. On the negative side, these heavy metals javanica. in the plant shoots can enter the food chain Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) is well and would become a health risk if animals known for its tolerance to adverse soil con- Conclusion are allowed to grazed on the rehabilitated ditions and is used as a contour hedge to sites. prevent soil erosion on steep slopes in Since the grass was resistant to all major some countries. Anecdotal evidence also species of Meloidogyne, Vetiver is unlikely More research is needed to investigate the indicates that when grown adja cent to or- to exacerbate problems caused by root- tolerance of Vetiver to mixtures of a num- chard trees for soil and water conservation knot nematodes when used as a cover, ber of heavy metals as under field condi- purposes, Vetiver appears to improve tree companion or hedgerow crop. tions high heavy metal contaminations of- growth. ten occur in combination with others. Lit- erature indicates that interactions between In Queensland, Vetiver grass is being used Soil Moisture And Sorghum themselves and other plant nutrients can to stabilize soil on slopes in sugarcane and Yield As Affected affect plant tolerant level greatly (Bowen, pineapple plantations. Since root-knot 1979; Kabata and Pendias, 1984; Lepp, nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) can be a Vetiver Hedges Under Irri- 1981). problem on both crops (Spaull & Cadet gated And Dryland Condi- 1990, Caswell et all 1990), the status of References: tions. Vetiver as a host of root-knot nematode was by P.A. Dalton and P.N.V. Truong of interest. This work aimed to answer that University of Southern Queensland and Baker, D.E. and Eldershaw, V.3. (1993). question. Interpreting soil analyses for agricultural Queensland Department of Primary Indus- tries, AUSTRALIA. land use in Queensland. Project Report Materials and Methods Series Q093014, QDPI, Brisbane, Austra- lia. Soil moisture competition between Vetiver Two Vetiver varieties were screened for hedges and crop could affect crop yield. resistance against five root-knot nematode To date conflicting results have been stated Bowen, H.J.M. (1979). Plants and the populations. The populations are represen- Chemical Elements. (Ed.) Academic Press, and very few quantitative studies on this tative of the main genetic groups of topic have been reported. London Meloidogyne in Australia and consist of four species (viz. M. arenaria, M. incognita Kabata, A and Pendias, H. (1984). Trace This paper presents the effects of Vetiver [populations B 1 and B2], M. javanica and hedges on soil moisture and sorghum yield Elements in Soils and Plants. CRC Press, M. hapla). They were identified using DNA Florida under various growing conditions. Treat- technology (Hugall et al 1994). The two ments include hedge maturity (mature and Vetiver varieties used were Monto, a ster- newly planted), soil types (Vertisol and Lepp, N.W. (1981). Effects of Heavy Metal ile selection, and a non-sterile type from Pollution on Plants - Vol.1. Effects of Trace Alfisol) and moisture regimes (dryland and Western Australia. The test plants were irrigated). metals on plant flinctions. Applied Science grown in the glasshouse in 200 mm pots in Publishers. London a sterile sand mix. Once they were estab- Gravimetric soil moisture and sorghum lished, five replicate plants were inoc ulated yield was recorded for each single row. Robb, D.A. and Pierpoint, W.S. (1983). with 10,000 root-knot nematode eggs. A Metals and Micronutrients: Uptake and susceptible tomato cultivar (cv. Tiny Tim) Under irrigated conditions on both soil Utilisation by Plants. Academic Press. Lon- was used as a standard for comparative don types, mature hedges depleted more soil purposes. Plants were harvested 6 weeks moisture than the sorghum crop and newly after inoculation, when egg masses on to- established hedges, but sorghum yield was

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 36 not significantly affected by the presence conserva- of either mature or young Vetiver hedges. tion mea- sures that Under dryland conditions on Vertisol soil, focus on the presence of a mature hedge signi- green ma- ficantly depressed sorghum yield of the first nuring and two rows adjacent to the hedges. Yield of legumi- row 3 and further was not affected. nous cover The above results indicate that moisture crops - competition does occur between mature particu- hedge and the first few rows. However crop larly appli- yield is only affected when soil moisture cable to availability is very low. Under irrigation or the maize adequate soil moisture conditions, yield of crop. This adjacent rows was not adversely affected note will by Vetiver hedges. focus pri- marily on the use of Panama vetiver Photo #13: Panama, Cerro Punta. This hedge was established on 100% grass as a slope to stabilize farm land in an area adjacent to the Amisconde National hedgerow Forest. The system works and the farmer is happy with the results. Note Report on visit to Western barrier. how crops are now cultivated on the contour. Panama Photo Credit: Dick Grimshaw R.G.Grimshaw. The Vetiver Network Existing uses of Vetiver in western as single clumps of grass used for medici- Regions of Western Panama have been Panama nal purposes. In fact it is apparent that in identified as sites for soil and water con- the past few years a large number of house- servation programs that will involve erosion In all the regions (Chiriqui, Veraguas, holds have heard of the grass and have reduction measures using biological sys- Herrea, Los Santos, Coclé and western acquired it for this purpose. The local name tems. These include the use of grass Panama), see attached map, visited there is “Secate Valeriana”. It was probably in- hedge rows - primarily vetiver grass; on was evidence of the existence of Vetiver troduced from neighboring Costa Rica or farm cultivation practices - primarily con- grass (Vetiveria zizanioides). In most in- Honduras. Some folk have had the grass tour cultivation, and soil fertility and insitu stances it can be found on household plots for fifteen years or more. It should be noted that in no instance was vetiver reported as invasive, it was certainly not considered a weed, and no one had ever seen it flower. Many farmers showed very good powers of observation as to the grass’s growing habits.

At Cerro Punta, in Chiriqui Region, the NGO group, AMISCONDE, was introduc- ing vetiver grass for soil and water con- servation. AMISCONDE had brought the planting material in from a coffee farm in nearby Costa Rica, and had established a small demonstration plot near its office. The Cerro Punta area is characterized by very steep hills., intensively cultivated with vegetable crops. Much of the cultivation is down the slope, and erosion studies in- dicate soil losses of more than 200 tons per annum. Much of this soil loss could be reduced if vetiver hedges were estab- lished on the contour across the slope. Photo 13 shows one such hedge on a 100% slope. In this instance the farmer Photo #12: Panama, Los Santos Region. 2year old vetiver grass used for medicinal with the help of AMISCONDE technicians purposes. established a hedge on the lip of a small Photo credit: Dick Grimshaw terrace. The hedge, about one year old is

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 37 well established and the farmer reports sig- On farm soil and water con- nificant soil loss reduction, and much re- servation. There are abun- duced rainfall runoff. The scene also shows dant opportunities to extend how the farmer has developed vegetable the practices just started in beds on the contour. The farmer also cuts Cerro Punt to conserve the the hedge from time to time and use the steeply cultivated lands that cuttings as a mulch. These farmers are support high value vegetable very much aware of potential soil loss as and beverage crops. A 3 hect- some of them dig small pits to trap sedi- are site near Boquete that has ment which they then dig and spread on slopes over 100%. Some their fields. The farmer is extending his large banks have been built hedge row plantings by using material from across the slope to remove ex- existing hedges and from additional mate- cess water, but these eventu- rial from Costa Rica. ally fail with devastating re- sults. This could be prevented Vetiver has been used to protect an irriga- if slopes were protected with tion pipes on steep hills. Many of these vetiver. The vetiver lines pipes, if unprotected, end up hanging in the would be planted about 10 air due to the erosion of the soil on which meters apart, on the contour, they originally rested. The hedge will also starting from the top of the stop the pathways from eroding. Another slope. These hedges, if use of the hedge rows on steep slopes is planted 15 cm apart within the that they make a strong and stable path- line, would be effective within way for farmers to get to their crops. a year, and would result in a slow down of runoff, and the Photo #14: Panama, Cerro Punta. This scene is on At Rio Sereno y Caizán a coffee farmer was retention of sediment and nu- the other side of the valley from that shown in photo using vetiver for stabilizing the edge of the trients. Erosion would be fur- 13. Note how crops are generally not cultivated on the coffee fields and the plantation roadsides. ther reduced by improved in contour. Slopes are over 100% and are eroding fast at The growth of vetiver at these sites was field practices including mulch- an estimated rate of 500 tons of soil per ha per year. extraordinarily good. It was all less than ing and across the slope culti- Photo Credit: Dick Grimshaw two years old, and had very good growth vation. Water would no longer rates, probably due to the trapping of ex- be concentrated and would be dispersed degraded soils near Chitré. These flat tidal cess fertilizer from the adjacent coffee gradually across the slope. areas have become totally denuded and fields. The altitude was about 1,000 meters are effected by wind and rainfall erosion. and rainfall about 1500 mm over a period In other areas such as Los Santos and Vetiver should be test planted. If it grows, of about 7 months. The coffee plantation Herrea soil slips are frequent due to shal- then vetiver hedges could be planted 50 owner was agreeable to set up a nursery low soils on a rather impermeable subsoil. meters apart. The effect would be to slow for the up coming project. All the farmers These lands will erode rapidly and will slip. down runoff, improve infiltration and prob- and users of vetiver were information Vetiver grass hedge rows planted on the ably improve the washing out of salts. starved!! They were happy to be given cop- contour will prevent these problems. The Grasses and other species are expected ies of the Spanish edition of “Vetiver Grass predominant crop is maize. If the a legu- to establish naturally between the hedges. - A Hedge Against Erosion” This booklet minous cover crop of beans were planted Trees such as Cassurina, and shrubs such should be widely distributed in Panama as with the maize then it would be possible to as Atriplex (salt bush) should also be test part of the soil and water conservation pro- improve soil fertility substantially - as dem- planted to determine survival and growth gram. onstrated in Honduras. The combination rates. of vetiver hedgerows and leguminous cover On one occasion in Chiriqui vetiver had crops would probably result in complete Land slippage Most areas suffer from land been damaged by a very large rodent (the stabilization and soil fertility maintenance. slippage. Some are massive others are size of a cane rat). The rodent had bur- Erosion would be reduced to less than 3 slight but could get very much worse. Some rowed along side a row of vetiver in an ef- tons per ha, and run off would also be re- large slips have produced a massive fort to find a weak spot to traverse the duced. The result would be that current amount of sediment directly into the rivers, vetiver line. In doing so it cut many of the labor intensive slash and burn farming sys- and have been caused by deforestation for vetiver roots. It is surmised that when fully tems would be minimized, farms would be coffee, and further aggravated, in some mature hedge rows have been established stabilized, land slips would no longer oc- cases by an unprotected road cuts. These it will be very difficult for the rat to penetrate cur, and sediment loads in the streams and slips could have been prevented if the land the hedges, and therefore that latter might rivers would be very much reduced. Crop had not been deforested. Further soil turn out to be an effective barrier against in yields and incomes would improve substan- losses could be prevented by planting field crop damage. tially. vetiver hedges to stabilize the slip. A slip in Los Santos was probably caused by cul- Proposed uses of Vetiver Waste land stabilization Vetiver has a tivation. This massive slip landed up in a good chance of growing on the hostile salt nearby stream — just another example of

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 38 vetiver to pre- vent slippage at a later date. A typical road site in the Chiriqui area has erod- ing side drains and rock debris fill from above. Much of this could be pre- vented if vetiver hedge rows were planted along the up side edge of the drain. The hedge would trap falling de- bris, and would keep the drain clean. Road drains erode be- cause existing Photo #15: This scene shows how the land in photo miter drains ei- #14 could be laid out with vetiver hedges. The hedges ther don’t exist should be placed 6 - 10 meters apart in the first in- or don’t work. stance. Often where Photo credit: Dick Grimshaw they do exist they create gul- lying in the land Photo #16: Panama, Boquete area. This land slope “point source erosion” The slipped area adjacent to the road. This can was more than 100% (note the angle of the trees!!), has naturally re vegetated, but could have be prevented by cutting a mi- cultivated to vegetables under a 2,000 mm rainfall re- been done quicker with the aid of vetiver ter drain in the correct place, gime. Vetiver hedge rows are the only way to stabilize grass hedgerows. In this case these slips placing a vetiver hedge on the slopes such as this one. were due to over grazing and the slip down side of the drain and ex- Photo Credit: Dick Grimshaw started probably along a cattle path. If tending it across the road side these slips are not checked, massive slid- lateral drain (to act as a diversion), and pro- by placing vetiver hedge rows (container- ing can occur at a later date. Vetiver grass tect the exit of the miter drain with vetiver ized plants) along what should be the hedges might stop this slippage, as the hedges to prevent erosion. stream bank. Over time sediment depos- hedge roots could pin the shallow overly- its would build up in front of the vetiver, and ing top soil to the underlying parent mate- River bank erosion can cause damage to the vetiver would grow up through the sedi- rial. Research needs to be carried out to property and structures. A property owner ment to form a new bank. Note planting of determine hedgerow effectiveness and at the picturesque tourist town of El Valle containerized plants should be at the end hedgerow architecture under different cir- had attempted to protect the garden from of the wet season when no further flooding cumstances. river damage using oil drums and concrete is expected. — not a very pleasing sight! and probably Stabilization of roads and river banks not a long lasting solution. Using contain- Readers should note that what is possible Vetiver grass has been used for years in erized plants vetiver grass would probably in Panama is possible through out all of the the Caribbean, Guatemala, Brazil, provide a long lasting solution, and would Central American countries. and is essen- Bangladesh and Natal (South Africa) to sta- look much nicer. River flow can also do tial for farm land stabilization, if tropical for- bilize road sides, drains, and river banks. great damage to road structures and can ests such as the Amiscobe Forest is to be In western Panama much of the sediment easily wash away gabbions. For long term preserved. flow in rivers can be traced back to point stabilization river banks should be “graded” source erosion sites. The collapse of a river and planted to vetiver hedgerows using USA bank or the fill area of a road will add tons containerized plants. The gabbions and of sediment to nearby streams and water- concrete should also be protected with The following article is included to recog- ways. This has been identified in forego- vetiver. On the down stream side of the nize the hard work put in by a team of sci- ing paragraphs in relation to land slips. A bridge there was a real mess caused by entists working for USDA to develop stiff road side near Boquete that had collapsed uncontrolled stream flow. Stream flow grass hedge technologies for those parts and rebuilt could have been stabilized with could be harnessed over a period of time

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 39 (the majority) of theUSA that is too cold for so that future runoff is more broadly dis- durable vegetation making it a leading can- vetiver. It is believed that the standards persed and less erosive. The general con- didate for use in grass hedges for erosion set out in the following article have now cept of this technology is that narrow rows control. Research on switchgrass improve- been approved by USDA for farmer use. of grass hedges are planted in parallel lines ment has been conducted for many years across and perpendicular to the dominant and has resulted in no less than a dozen Guidelines for the Establish- slope of the field (7) (Fig. 1). The design, released improved varieties which has in- spacing and lateral extent for vegetative creased the adaptation potential of the spe- ment of Warm Season Grass barriers in concentrated flow zones de- cies considerably (12). State Extension Hedges for Erosion Control pends on anticipated runoff rates, topog- and/or local NRCS personnel should be C. L. Dewald, Jim Henry, Steve Bruckerhoff, raphy, and other factors which have been consulted to determine the variety best Jerry Ritchie, Seth Dabney, Dan Shepherd, detailed previously (4, 7). adapted to a particular site and situation. Joel Douglas, Dale Wolf. USDA/ARS/SCS Factors which influence the success of Eastern gamagrass has recently received Soil erosion is a major problem around the grass hedge plantings includes selection considerable attention for use in grass world (3). An economical method to slow of the proper grass, use of high quality hedges for erosion control. Problems in- runoff and reduce soil loss is stiff, erect, seed, proper seedbed preparation, preci- herent to the species, including densely-tillered narrow grass hedges. sion planting, optimum timing and sound indeterminant low seed production, seed Such grass hedges are widely used in In- management practices during and follow- dormancy and resulting problems in stand dia, the West Indies, and other countries ing establishment. establishment (2) have slowed the progress to reduce soil loss (10). The concept of in eastern gamagrass variety development, using grass barriers for erosion control was Grass selection but the erosion resistance potential of the proposed by USDA Soil Conservation Ser- grass merits further research. The crowns vice (SCS) about 40 years ago in the United Research has shown that a variety of pe- of eastern gamagrass are formed by a pro- States but for a variety of reasons was not rennial grasses that have coarse stems will liferation of compact shoots consisting of adopted. work as hedges if they can be established vegetative and reproductive tillers in vari- as a uniform and dense hedge, and are ous stages of development (5). Shoots are In recent years there has been a renewed tolerant of silt deposition. Warm-season interconnected through several tiller gen- interest in the use of narrow stiff grass grasses are probably better candidates for erations by a thick (1/2 to 1") woody proaxis hedges as a conservation practice (7). hedges because they are generally more (stembase) chain network which remains Research has been done on application of robust and tend to have stiffer stems and, intact for several years acting as a consid- grass barriers to reduce water (4) and wind increased tillering within the hedge than erable deterrent to erosion. The dynamic (1, 11) erosion. Research has shown grass most cool-season grasses. Grass hedges crown has the capacity to elevate coarse hedges to slow runoff, trap sediment, pre- should consist of stiff, erect, perennial aerial foliage above sediment coverage and vent gullying (4, 9), and enhance terrace grasses which are adapted to local soil and to anchor the plant in place with stout (1/ formation (1). They are an inexpensive, climatic conditions. Grass barriers must 16 to 1/8" diameter) brace roots. biological, conservation technology com- have sufficient stem strength to remain patible with current tillage systems (8). erect against expected water flows. Seedbed preparation

In 1991 the USDA Agricultural Research Suitable barrier plants must satisfy several Poor seedbed preparation is a major cause Service (ARS) and the USDA Soil Conser- criteria. They must be tolerant to: (a) her- of stand failures in grass plantings and vation Service (S CS), now the Natural bicides used on adjacent cultivated crops; therefore seedbed preparation should be Resource Conservation Service (RCS) (b) partial shading from cultivated crops; planned and initiated well ahead of plant- along with several universities initiated a (c) inundation by sediment; (d) local climatic ing. Methods of seedbed preparation (the program to study grass hedges to control extremes (wetness, drought, freezing tem- cultural treatments needed to produce a runoff and reduce soil loss. In 1994, the peratures, etc.); and, (e) easily established suitable medium for optimum germination SCS initiated a three-year evaluation of a from available materials; (f) long lived and and seedling emergence) will depend national interim practice standard for the manageable as a narrow strip; (g) non- largely on the condition of the site to be design and implementation of grass hedges weedy and not too competitive with adja- seeded. as an accepted conservation practice. cent cultivated crops; and (1) relatively tol- erant to defoliation if crop residues are No-till seeding can be ideal, provided the Grass hedges differ from other common grazed. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) seedbed allows the placement of seed at types of grass strips (i.e. buffer strips, filter and eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum an optimum depth and the planting opera- strips) because they are narrow, planted dactyloides L.) are two warm season, pe- tion is capable of firming the soil above and with stiff, erect grasses, and capitalize on, rennial native, non-weedy species with around the seed to obtain good seed-soil rather than minimize, the formation of potential as hedges in much of the United contact which is necessary for retention of berms by deposited sediment. A dense States. soil moisture in direct contact with seeds uniform stand of coarse stems slows during the germination process. concentra ted runoff, causing backwaters Switchgrass has a wide area of adaptation, as deep as 12 to 16" and allows time for determinate seeding habit, smooth (non- No-till seeding into areas with excessive deposition of eroded sediments. The de- chaffy) seed characteristics for ease of surface residues (50% or more of the soil posited sediment fills in low spots in fields handling, and prolific’ production of coarse surface covered) or with weed competition

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 40 is not recommended. Excessive surface determined to be viable, but which fail to higher percentage of poor quality seed residues and weed competition can often germinate following standardized precon- weights. Good quality eastern gamagrass be reduced by mechanical means, burn- ditioning treatments. Percent germination, seed should have at least 95% purity, a PLS ing and/or the use of broad spectrum her- firm seed and/or dormant seed are of 80% or better and 6000 or less seeds bicides prior to grass seeding. In cases summed and reported as total germination. per pound. Stratified seed (i.e., moist where such remedial practices are not fea- Pure live seed is determined by multiply- prechill at 35 to 45˚ F for at least 6 weeks) sible it will be necessary to resort to tilled ing the decimal value of % purity by % total should be purchased from reputable deal- seedbed preparation methods. germination. A high percentage PLS is an ers to increase the success of grass hedge indication of over all seed quality. establishment. Tilled seedbeds have the same rigid re- quirements for, successful grass hedge Stratification by moist prechill occurs in When to plant establishment as outlined for no-till seed- nature as seeds fall from the grass plant in beds. An ideal seedbed will result in opti- the Fall and lay dormant on or in the soil Spring planting should be done as soon as mum soil-moisture-seed relationships dur- throughout the winter until soil tempera- the soil temperature warms up to the point ing seed germination and early seedling tures are conducive for germination the fol- required for optimum germination of the establishment. A firm smooth soil surface, lowing Spring. The natural stratification seed being planted and if possible just prior not excessively compacted, is required to process is short circuited when seeds are to the greatest probability of substantial or facilitate precision planting and to optimize harvested from the plant, stored dry over prolonged rainfall. In some areas these two soil-moisture-seed relationships. The disk, winter and planted in warm soil the follow- factors may not coincide, thus a compro- offset or tandem, is probably the most com- ing spring. In laboratory tests seeds of mise may be necessary. mon tool used for seedbed preparation switchgrass and eastern gamagrass are when site conditions allow for its effective subjected to standardized moist prechill Switchgrass and eastern gamagrass use. Harrowing and cultipacking following (stratification) treatments designed to break should be planted when soil temperatures disking helps smooth and firm the seed- dormancy and enhance germination. A do- stabilize in the range of 65 to 80˚ F at a 1" bed. it-yourself germination test that measures depth-below the soil surface. Faster ger- actual germination without artificial stratifi- mination and seedling emergence will oc- Excessively loose and rough seedbeds cation is often more meaningful than labo- cur w hen soil temperatures are near the hamper seeding success because seeding ratory tests. A “ragdoll” test can be con- upper limits of the temperature range (80 depths cannot be controlled accurately. ducted by placing 100 seed on the right half to 85˚ F) when soil moisture is not limiting. Soils should not be worked when exces- of a wet paper towel, folding the left half of Planting dates will vary depending on lo- sively wet, and any operation which results the towel over the seed, and rolling it into a cations but are generally between March in the formation of clods should be avoided. tight tube. Excess water should be allowed 15 and May 15 in the South and May 1 to Grass seeds are small and must be planted to drain from the ragdoll which can then be June 15 in the northern states. In relation relatively shallow in order for the energy sealed in a plastic sandwich bag to pre- to other crops, the warm season grasses stored within the small seed to power the vent excessive drying. The ragdoll should should be planted later than corn, but prior seedling emergence process. Firm seed- be kept in a warm (70-85˚ F) place until to cotton or soybean planting time. beds are essential as loose porous seed- germination counts are made 7 days later. beds do not provide adequate contact be- Placing some seed you know will germi- In general, later planting dates will allow tween seeds and the underlying soil water nate (alfalfa, millet, clover) in a similar more time for weed emergence and weed needed to ensure germination of seeds ragdoll will confirm that the test conditions control prior to grass hedge planting, but placed near the soil surface. are suitable for proper germination. The this must be considered in relation to tim- number of seed which germinate in the ing of rainfall probabilities. In more arid ar- Use good quality seed ragdoll is equivalent to actual % germina- eas it may be better to plant as soon as the tion and can be multiplied by % purity, ex- 1" soil temperature reaches 65˚ F; whereas The use of good quality seed is essential pressed as a decimal value, to calculate later plantings are preferable in more hu- to allow for precision planting and to help pure actual germination (PAG). Pounds of mid zones. ensure success of grass hedge establish- seed/A on a PAG basis can be calculated ment. Seed should be purchased from a by dividing the laboratory PLS by the ob- Planting rates reputable seed source on a pure live seed tained PAG and multiplying by lb PLS rec- (PLS) basis. The seed tag should list the ommended per acre. This usually amounts Planting rates for grass hedge establish- percentage purity, other crop, inert, weed to an increase in seeding rate which gives ment should be two to four times more than seed, germination, hard seed, dormant added insurance for rapid establishment of rates recommended for pasture plantings seed, and total germination of the product. a thick grass stand. because grass hedges are planted in nar- It is very important to plant seed with high row strips with their function requiring a purity as this reduces the percentage of Eastern gamagrass seeds consist of grain rapid development of a dense stand of detrimental materials, (i.e., inert which in- (caryopses) enclosed in a hard woody fruit grass. terferes with planting efficiency, and other case which protects the grain and inhibits crop and weed seed which can compete germination of the grain until stratification Switchgrass planting rates should approxi- with the grass seedlings during establish- is induced (2). The protective fruit case mate the critical area stabilization rate (i.e. ment). Most seed tags include percentage makes up about 70% of the total weight of about twice that of pasture plantings) which hard and/or dormant seed which are seed good quality gamagrass seed and a much translates to a minimum of 44 potential

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 41 seedlings per square ft. of the planted area. relations and emergence may be delayed. tice for control of tall weeds during estab- This is equivalent to 8 to 10 lb. PLS per Row planters (corn, cotton, peanut, etc.) lishment and for hedge maintenance there- acre, but if a ragdoll test shows that actual are easily adjusted to plant gamagrass in after. Usually an early-summer mowing is germination is overstated on the seed tag, rows. The row planter furrowing out shov- needed to prevent the grass hedge from the seeding’ rate should be adjusted up- els or disk openers can be set to push away lodging on the adjacent crop rows. Grass ward accordingly. Grass hedges occupy dry surface soil and insure the placement hedges should not be mowed shorter than only a small percentage of the total field of the grass seed in a moist environment. 10-12" as this is a minimum height for area so that increased seeding rates are The covering device should be set to cover hedge efficiency and lower cuttings during usually cost effective. the seed with moist soil and the packer periods of active growth may severely re- wheel adjusted to firm the soil over the seed duce the vigor of the grass. Eastern gamagrass should be planted at row. Stratified seed has increased weight the rate of 10 to 12 lb. PLS/row mile of due to extra moisture content and calibra- Burning can be an effective tool for grass hedge and lb./A will vary depending on the tion is best done by counting the seed to hedge management, but the timing of burn- row spacing to be used. The 10 to 12 lb. determine the number dispensed per lin- ing is critical. Winter burning is not recom- PLS/row/mile will be equivalent to 9 to 13 ear ft of row (i.e. 9 to 13 pure live seed/ mended as the dormant hedge still main- pure live seed per linear ft of row. The linear ft of row is recommended). tains a high degree of its water impound- amount of seed needed can be determined ing function during this period (Fig. 5). Burn- by multi plying the miles of hedge rows to Management practices ing just prior to spring greenup of the hedge be planted times 10 to 12 lb. PLS (i.e., 1 would reduce the time that the hedge would mile of 2 row hedge 1 x 2 x 10 to 12 = 20 to Washout or other problems may cause lose effectiveness and should be consid- 24 lb. PLS needed). voids or skips in the grass hedge which ered in relation to period of probable run- require replanting. Reseeding by hand off. Burning stimulates grass hedge tillering Planting procedures broadcasting and covering the seed by a and vigor, but caution in its use is recom- hand rake may be practical for reseeding mended. Width of grass hedges should be a least 1 small voids. In concentrated flow areas, to 2 ft. wide to a maximum of five ft. Wider replanting washouts with veg etative trans- Summary strips can be narrowed down with cultiva- plants may be more effective than reseed- tion once the hedge plants are well estab- ing as transplants provide quicker cover Grass hedges can be a relatively economi- lished (Fig. 2 and 3). A single row of a dense and provide protection sooner than seed- cal means to slow runoff water and reduce grass stand is usually adequa te except in lings. soil loss. There are several factors which concentrated flow areas where at least two will influence the success of grass hedge rows are required. Both switchgrass and eastern gamagrass establishment including grass selection, can be established vegetatively from crown seed quality, seedbed preparation, plant- Switchgrass is usually drill seeded in rows material transplanted during the dormant ing procedures, timing and management 6 to 8" apart at a depth of 1/4 to 1/2”. Seed season prior to spring green-up (6). practices during and following establish- placement should be uniform in rows with Propagules can be obtained from adjacent ment. Failure to consider any one of these drills having a small seed attachment. Drills established plants by splitting off portions factors may jeopardize the success of grass equipped with double-disk openers with of crown material with a shovel and replant- hedge establishment. Grass hedge estab- proper depth bands facilitate placement of ing the crown material in the voids. Indi- lishment is not simple nor easy, but the re- seed at the proper depth (Fig. 4). The depth vidual transplanting units of switchgrass wards from a well established grass hedge bands should be secured to the disk open- should have at l east 4 to 5 viable shoots should offset the effort. Good Luck. ers at a distance of 1/2” from the cutting (stem base) while eastern gamagrass edge of the disk. Tension on the disk open- should have at least 3. The transplants (if readers would like to learn more about ers should be such that the depth bands should be spaced no more than 6" apart in this technology, contact: roll on the soil surface and do not become the row to create a dense hedge. [email protected] submerged nor ride above the soil surface. ....Ed) Packer wheels on the drill which firm the Fertility levels of phosphorus (P) and po- soil over the planted seed are also very tassium (K) which promote good growth of REFERENCES CITED beneficial. Drag chains, though inferior to the companion cultivated crop will be ad- packer wheels, may also be used to cover equate for grass hedges. Soil tests are 1. Aase, J. K. and J. L. Pikul, Jr. 1995. and firm the soil around the seed, and a required to determine P and K needs if they Terrace formation in cropping strips pro- cultipacker or roller may be used immedi- haven’t been applied recently in the crop tected by tall wheatgrass barriers. J. Soil ately following planting if needed to firm the management program. Nitrogen should not and Water Conservation 50:110-112. soil. be applied until after a good grass stand is obtained and plants have reached a height 2. Ahring, R. M. and H. Frank. 1968. Es- Stratified seed of eastern gamagrass of at least 4" because N promotes weed tablishment of eastern gamagrass from should be planted 1 to 1-1/2" deep. Plant- growth and competition. After the grass is seed and vegetative propagation. J. ing in deep furrows in soils subject to wash- established it should be fertilized annually Range Manage. 21:27-30. ing should be avoided as seed can be cov- with 60 lb actual N/A preferably in April or ered too deep. Planting shallower than 1" early May. 3. Brown, L. R. and E. C. Wolf. 1984. Soil will have less favorable moisture - seed Mowing at a 10 to 12" height is a good prac- erosion: the quiet crisis in the world

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 42 economy. Worldwatch Paper #60, 51 pp. The Vetiver Network 4. Dabney, S. M., K. C. McGregor, L. D. Addresses of Meyer, E. H. Grissinger and G. R. Foster. Directors 1993. Vegetative barriers for runoff and sediment control. pp.60-70. In J. K. Mitchell and Officials (ed.). Integrated Resource Management and Landscape Modification for Environ- Directors mental Protection, American Society of Ag- ricultural Engineers, St. Joseph, MI. Mr. T. James Goering Director International Programs 5. Dewald, C. L. and V. H. Louthan. 1979. World Vision Sequential development of shoot system 220 Eye Street NE (suite 270) components in eastern gamagrass. J. Washington DC 20002 Range Manage. 32:147-151. Tel: 202 547 3743 6. Dewald, C. L. and P. L. Sims. 1981. 202 547 4834 Seasonal vegetative establishment and E.Mail: shoot reserves of eastern gamagrass. J. [email protected] Range Manage. 34:300-304. QUIZ Mr. John Greenfield. 7. Kemper, D., S. Dabney, L. Kramer, D. 21 Reinga Road US $20 for the first correct answer as Dominick and T. Keep. 1992. Hedging Keri Keri to what the above image represents. against erosion. J. Soil and Water Conser- Bay of Islands Don’t forget to send in a piece about vation 47:284-288. New Zealand what you are doing with vetiver grass along with your answer to Dick 8. McGregor, K. C. And S. M. Dabney. Tel/Fax: 64-9-4077268 Grimshaw at the The Vetiver Network 1993. Grass hedges reduce soil loss on no- till and conventional-till plots. Proceedings Mr. R. G. Grimshaw (President) Soil Conservation Tillage Conference for 15 Wirt St NW Sustainable Agriculture, Monroe, LA. pp. Leesburg Mr. Monty Yudelman 16-20. Virginia 22075 World Wildlife Fund 1250 Twenty-Fourth Street, NW 9. Meyer, L. D., S. M. Dabney and W. C. Tel: 703 771 1942 Washington DC 20037-1175 Harmon. 1994. Sediment-trapping effec- Fax: 703 771 8260 tiveness of stiff-grass hedges. American E.mail: [email protected] Tel: 202 778 9638 Society of Agricultural Engineers Paper Fax: 202 293 9211 No.94-2186, American Society of Agricul- Mr. James Smyle tural Engineers, St. Joseph, MI. Apdo. 173-2020 Centro Postal Zapote Mr. Paul Zuckerman 10. National Research Council. 1993. Ve- Costa Rica Caspian Securities tiver grass: a thin green line against ero- Broadgate Court sion. National Academy Press, Washing- E.mail: [email protected] 199 Bishopsgate ton, DC. 169 pp. London EC2M 3TY Mr. Noel Vietmeyer United Kingdom 11. Siddoway, F. H. 1970. Barriers for wind 5921 River Drive erosion control and water conservation. J. Lorton Tel: 0171-422 8999 Soil and Water Conservation 25:181 - Virginia 22079 184. Fax: 0171422 8822 Tel. 703 339 6161 12. Vogel, K. P., C. L. Dewald, H. J. Gorz [email protected] and F. A. Haskins. 1985. Improvements of [email protected] Corporate Secretary switchgrass, indiangrass, and eastern gamagrass: Current status and future. Dr. P.K.Yoon Mr. Mark Dafforn Proc. Soc.Range Manage. Symp. pp.159- 69 Jalan S33/39 2817 28th Street NW 170. Soc. Range Manage., Denver, CO. Petaling Jaya 47300 Washington DC 20008 Salangor Malaysia. Tel: 202 334 2692 Fax: 202 334 2660 tel: 60-3-7762880 E.mail: [email protected] Fax: 60-3-777 1966

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 43 The Vetiver Table of Contents Network News Line Leesburg Virginia The First International Vetiver Conference,“Vetiver - A Miracle Grass” 1 Funding Support For The Vetiver Network 2 USA. A Call For Help from Cameroon! 2 Regional Networks 2 Red Del Vetiver Latinoamericana 2 Address: The Vetiver Network, 15 Wirt The Vetiver Network Homepage on the Internet 3 Street NW, Leesburg, Virginia, 22075*, Change of Address 3 USA. Letters to the Editor 3 Thailand - First International Vetiver Conference * From July 1 1996 change zip to 20176 Draft Conference Resolution 7 Abstracts Of Selected Research Papers 9 Telephone: 703 771 1942 SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS 9 TOLERANCE OF VETIVER TO TOXIC CHEMICALS 11 Fax: 703 771 8260 BIO-ENGINEERING ASPECTS 13 AGRICULTURAL USES OF VETIVER 16 E.mail: [email protected] VETIVER AGRONOMY 17 VETIVER GRASS HEDGE ROW TECHNOLOGY 19 Home page: http://www.vetiver.com Field Reports South Africa Network Coordinator and Presi- The Use of Vetiver grass in the Revegetation of Kimberlite dent: Spoil in Respect to South African Diamond Mining. 25 Fiji Richard (Dick) Grimshaw at above ad- Back From The Future: Do’s and Don’ts After 50 years dresses. of Vetiver Utilization in Fiji. 26 Zimbabwe Corporate Secretary: The Hippo Valley Estates Magudu Vetiver Outreach Project 28 Papua New Guinea Mark Dafforn at: The Establishment and Management of Vetiver Grass within the Traditional Garden System of Papua New Guinea. 29 2817 28th Street NW Australia Washington DC 20008 Effectiveness Of The Vetiver Hedges In Soil Erosion And Sediment Control In Queensland 32 Tel: 202 334 2692 Effects of Heavy Metals Toxicities on Vetiver Growth 32 Fax: 202 334 2660 Resistance Of Vetiver Grass To Infection By Root-Knot E.mail: [email protected] Nematodes(Meloidogyne Spp) 36 Soil Moisture And Sorghum Yield As Affected Vetiver Hedges Under Irrigated And Dryland Conditions. 36 Panama Report on visit to Western Panama 37 FOR SALE USA Guidelines for the Establishment of Warm Season Video Films: Vetiver Grass - A Hedge Grass Hedge for Erosion Control 40 Against Erosion. 28 minute video The Vetiver Network Addresses of Directors and Officials 43 comprising 128 scenes of vetiver technology. Available in English or Spanish, and in PAL or NTSC formats. Price US $25 including shipping.

Slide set: (65 transparencies)of vetiver technology + write up in English. Price US $65 including shipping and handling.

Available from The Vetiver Network.

VETIVER NEWSLETTER #15 PAGE 44