RUMPUT VETIVER
What Is Vetiver Grass ? Rumput Vetiver, Chrysopogon zizanioides
General Information on Vetiver Grass
Vetiver grass is a tropical plant which grows naturally. In Thailand, vetiver grass can be found growing in a wide range of area from highlands to lowlands in various soil conditions. The species which is most common in Thailand is referred to in scientific term as Vetiveria zizanioides. This species appears in a dense clump and grows fast through tillering. The clump diameter is about 30 cm. and the height is 50-150 cm. The leaves are erect and rather stiff with 75 cm. of length and 8 mm. of width.
If planted along contours across the slope, the clump which stands above the ground will produce tillers, forming a green hedge. This thus makes it capable of trapping crop residues and silts which are eroded by runoff and enabling them to naturally form an earth embankment. Since vetiver grass has a deep thick root system which spreads vertically rather than horizontally, it can efficiently endure harsh conditions. The roots densely bind together like an underground curtain or wall enabling it to store water and moisture. However, since the root system expands sideway up to only 50 cm., it imposes no obstacle to the nearby plants and is thus considered an effective measure for soil and water conservation. Vetiver hedgerows maintain soil moisture and soil surface and at the same time, are suitable for cultivating along with economic crops. Growing vetiver grass is simple, applicable and money-saving. The practice can lead to the strengthening and sustainability of the farming system in rainfed areas and can be applied in other areas for preservation and conservation of natural resources such as along the banks of the irrigation canals, reservoirs or ponds along the road shoulders and the approach of a bridge, as well as in forests.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar