The Hindu Business Line : ‘Vettiver’ grass finds uses in development projects

Mangalore, Jan. 14 When one thinks of grass what comes to mind is its use as fodder or lawns. But a particular species of grass — known as vettiver (Vettiveria zyzynoides) — has multiple uses in soil conservation and slope stabilisation among others.

Also known as ‘lamancha’, ‘ramachcham’ or ‘khus’ in India, this grass type is making its impact in various developmental projects. The use of vettiver in the establishment of hedges in tea plantations is gaining popularity, and also its uses in slope stabilisation in road and railway projects.

Tea plantations

Vettiver hedges in tea plantations are used for soil and moisture conservation. Mr P. Haridas, Coordinator of India Vettiver Network, told Business Line that some tea planters have begun using this in the establishment of hedges in tea estates in place of stone revetments. Based on the trials and experience in tea plantations in Munnar and Annamallais, the UPASI Tea Research Institute is now recommending the use of vettiver for soil and moisture conservation for tea plantations in South India, he said. Added to this, the cost is 30 per cent cost of construction of revetments.

Mr Shree Padre, an expert in rainwater harvesting, said that the use of vettiver has helped farmers in rain-fed areas. Quoting his experience with this grass, he said many farmers in a southern district of Karnataka have established vettiver hedges in their fields. This ensured sustainable moisture and soil conservation. Farmers are making best use of rainwater with vettiver grass.

Slope stabilisation

The tensile strength of the root and its ability to penetrate deep into soil has come as a natural answer for slope stabilisation as well. Mr Padre said the tensile strength of the roots was almost one-sixth of the mild steel.

Mr Haridas said vettiver was used extensively in China for slope stabilisation in railway network and express highways. In the latest edition of the farm journal — Adike Patrike, published from Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district — Mr John C. Greenfield, Emeritus Agricultural Adviser of World Bank, says that vettiver’s ability as a hedge to stop landslides, mudslides and slips has recently made it possible to form permanent roads throughout the tropics where none existed before.

Soil conservation

On its role in conserving soil, he said soil erosion is a slow process, and farmers often do not appreciate how much of the valuable top soil they are losing as they have nothing to measure it by.

In the tropics, vettiver is the only system that will guarantee farmers and their country continued production without loss of top soil. While the vettiver hedge in India can last for over 200 years, the constructed bank will only last five years at the most and then has to be rebuilt at great cost to the farmer, he says in the journal. Mr Haridas said vettiver system applications are now extended to sectors such as bio-engineering and phyto-remediation for environmental protection, embankment stabilisation, reclamation of waste land, rehabilitation of contaminated land, improving quality of water, and prevention or mitigation of natural disaster.

He also said India Vettiver Network and the Vettiver Network International will conduct a national workshop on ‘Vettiver system for environmental protection and natural disaster management’ at Kochi from February 21 to 23.