VETIVER

VETIVER GRASS
GRASS TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY FOR
FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
PROTECTION
Paul Truong, DNR, Brisbane, Australia
Vetiver
VetiverGrass
GrassTechnology
Technology(VGT)
(VGT)was
wasfirst
firstdeveloped
developedby bythe
theWorld
WorldBank
Bankforforsoil
soiland
andwater
waterconservation
conservationininagricultural
agricultural
lands
lands in the 1980’s. The Vetiver Network (TVN) with the support of the World Bank, has since encouraged,supported
in the 1980’s. The Vetiver Network (TVN) with the support of the World Bank, has since encouraged, supported
the
theR&D
R&Dand
andpromoted
promotedthe
theapplication
applicationofofVGT
VGTworld
worldwide
widethrough
throughits
itsglobal
globalnetwork.
network. One
Oneofofthe
theoutstanding
outstanding
successes of its R&D is the applications of VGT in the area of environmental protection.
successes of its R&D is the applications of VGT in the area of environmental protection.

Tolerance Range of Vetiver Grass

Adverse Soil Conditions
Acidity pH 3.3
Aluminium level (Al Sat. %) Between 80% - 87%
Manganese level > 578 mgkg -1
Alkalinity (highly sodic) pH 11.5
Salinity (50% yield reduction) 17.5 mScm -1
Salinity (survived) 47.5 mScm -1
Sodicity 33% (exchange Na)
Magnesicity 2 400 mgkg -1 (Mg)

Several attempts in the past to Heavy Metals

rehabilitate this old quarry have failed. Arsenic 100 - 250 mgkg -1
Cadmium 20 mgkg -1 This 40 year old coal mine overburden
Vetiver was planted in this highly hostile Copper 35 - 50 mgkg -1 stock pile remains bare of vegetation.
environment to control soil erosion Chromium 200 - 600 mgkg -1
Nickel 50 - 100 mgkg -1
Several rehabilitation attempts have
Mercury > 6 mgkg -1 failed
Lead > 1 500 mgkg -1
Selenium > 74 mgkg -1
Zinc. >750 mgkg -1

Location Equator to 41 0N

Deep and extensive root Climate

Annual Rainfall (mm) 250 - 5 000
system binds the soil and Frost (ground temp.) -14 0C
enhances drought Heat wave 55 0C Dense growth retards water
Drought (without effective rain) 15 months flow and traps sediments
tolerance
Fertiliser
Vetiver can be established on very N and P
Sixteen months after planting, this old infertile soil due to its strong (300 kg/ ha DAP)
quarry was successfully revegetated association with mycorrhiza
Vetiver established successfully in the
and the inter row space was all covered
gully to stop further erosion and across
with volunteer species.
the toe slope to trap eroded material

Vetiver grass planted

across this waterway
on a sugarcane farm
in Australia to
control erosion and
to trap sediment
runoff from the
sugarcane fields.
Note the large
quantity of sediment
Vetiver was planted to soak up effluent from trapped after one big Pesticide concentrations in sediment trapped up
Herbicieds concentrations in sediment trapped
septic tanks on a holiday camp. General storm. and downstream of 2 vetiver filter strips. The
up aand downstream of the two vetiver hdges.
view of the camp with vetiver well green bars indicate the position of the 2 vetiver
At the second hedge, most of the herbicide was Dust pollution is a major environmental
established 7 months after planting. rows in the waterway. This shows that up to
also trapped. hazard in semi arid regions and mining
88% of the pesticides in the runoff water was
operations. This photo shows the dust
trapped by the hedges.
problem on the tailings dam of a gold
mine.

Nine months after effluent was released

upslope from the vetiver stand. Note the
excellent growth of vetiver on the RHS and
poor growth on the LHS, indicating most if not One year after planting the landfill was When planting at a certain interval, vetiver
In Guangzhou, China, leachate and odour from Following capping with a thin layer of
all the discharged effluent was soaked up by successfully rehabilitaed. hedgerows will reduce wind velocity at
this newly disposed city garbage will pollute topsoil Vetiver was planted on top of this
the first few rows of vetiver. ground leveland promote the establishment
the environment if not properly rehabilitated. landfill. of the ground cover crop. This combination