MIRACLE GRASS -Vetiver " vetiveria zizanoedes"

One of the causes of climate change is the increased carbon dioxide (CO2) gas emissions brought about by human activity like the burning of fossil fuel and deforestation. Vetiver grass can help in the sequestration of this carbon as with other vegetation and trees. It's elementary knowledge that plants absorbs CO2 and give out oxygen. Vetiver grass is a very sturdy and resilient grass because it is both a hydrophyte (can ber submerged in water for long periods) and xerophyte (can withstand extreme drought). It's roots aside from being so long, have the strength of 75 mpa or like thin wires, such that once it is planted, it is very hard to pull out.

The secret of Vetiver grass is in its deep root system. The unique rooting system of the grass binds loose soil to prevent surface erosion. Its long growth anchors the soil as deep as 3meters. The roots of vetiver grow one foot every month until they reach 3meters on the 9th month.

The nitrogen properties of the grass also encourage the growth of other vegetation on eroded slopes. When planted correctly, the vetiver hedges (the grass is planted in a row) block the water flow, thus breaking its velocity as it goes down the slope. What come down instead are gentle tricles of water filtered by the vetiver hedge rows. This also traps the soil thus reducing siltation.

Vetiver is a "behaved grass" because it is propagated by cuttings and only grows where it is planted thus it does not become an invasive weed. Though the grass produces seeds, these are sterile. It can grow in any type of soil, even toxic soil or soils with high metal content such as copper, manganese, aluminum, selenium, cadmium even arsenic. It can even grow on garbage, and can grow back after it is razed by fire. It is nitrogen-fixing thus it helps in conditioning the soil for other vegetation to grow.

Vetiver planting is a cost-efficient technology for soil erosion control. While it is basically maintenance-free, planting the grass involves an engineering technology in order to make it effective.

BE aware, since it is labor intensive, a lot of the cost of propagation goes to the labor rather than materials. For more information, email: biosolution366@yahoo.com.ph or log on to www.biosolutions.com.ph