70th SWCS International Annual Conference July 26-29, 2015 Greensboro, NC

1. Using Vetiver Grass System toUsing Vetiver Grass System to
protect Water from Sedimentationprotect Water from Sedimentation
and other Pollutionand other Pollution
Mohammad H. GolabiMohammad H. Golabi
Professor of Soil and Environmental SciencesProfessor of Soil and Environmental Sciences
College of Natural and Applied SciencesCollege of Natural and Applied Sciences
University of GuamUniversity of Guam
Presented at thePresented at the 7070thth
Annual SWCSAnnual SWCS
Greensboro, NCGreensboro, NC

4. The Basic concept of Vetiver Grass Technology
 The Vetiver Grass Technology (VGT), in its most
common form, is simply the establishment of a
narrow (less than 1 meter wide) live stiff vetiver
grass barrier, in the form of a hedge, across the
slope of the land.
 When applied correctly the technology is effective
on slopes from less than 1 to over 100%. A
well-established Vetiver grass hedge will slow down
rainfall runoff, spreading it out evenly, and will trap
runoff sediments to create natural terraces.
 In addition its massive root system will increase the
shear strength of soil (thus providing improved stability
of soils on steep slopes).

5. VETIVER SYSTEMS APPLICATIONS
 ••Soil and Water Conservation
 •Land Reclamation
 •Slope Stabilization
 •Disaster Mitigation
 •Interface between Water and Structures
 •Improved Water Quality and Remediation of
 Polluted Sites
 •Agricultural Uses
 •Other Uses

6. Physiological Characteristics
 Tolerant to:
 Cold and hot weather
 Fire
 Water logging, inundation
 Salinity
 Acidity/Alkalinity
 Aluminum and Manganese
 Heavy metals
 Herbicides/Pesticides

7. OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
(Its Root System)

8. Deep, Dense and Penetrating Root System
One year
plants
3m deep
Roots
Courtesy of:
Richard Grimshaw, Chairman
The Vetiver Network
The Vetiver Network

9. Six Month old Vetiver plant – Dakar, Senegal.
In the background, Vetiver planted “by the meter” or in strips to speed up
transplanting in erosion control sites.
The Vetiver Network

10. Extensive and Deep Root Systems Venezuela case display

11. Some other Uses
Waste Water Treatment

12. Vetiver Systems for Treating Wastewater and for Pollution
Control
The Vetiver Network

13. For Slope Stabilization and Agro forestry
(Venezuela)
Agro forestry
Slope Stabilization
Dr. Golabi participating in an
Agro-forestry project in Venezuela

14. Different uses in In China
use in landfillFor sewage water treatment and
pollution control
Slope Stabilization and
watershed management

15. Use of Vetiver Grass Technology
for Watershed Management and
Sediment Control
at the River Banks and Shorelines

16. End Goal
Stop Erosion From Source Stop Major Sediment Outfalls

17. Coral Reef Degradation As the Result of Severe Soil
Erosion
Photo (Anae Island, Guam) by David
Courtesy of Dr. Minton, NPS

18. Mud in Pauliluc Bay
Courtesy of Dr. Minton, NPS

19. Healthy Coral Reef
Photo (11 miles reef, Guam) by David Burdick
Courtesy of Dr. Minton, NPS

20. Converting Badlands to Green lands
Badland Six Months after Planting

21.  USE OF VETIVER TECHNOLOGY FOR
RIVER BANK PROTECTION AND
SHORELINE EROSION CONTROL

22. Vetiver Systems for Flood Control
Flood protection of Sea Walls - Vietnam 2005
In 2005 Vietnam experienced its worst
typhoons in 60 years. Trial
plantings of Vetiver proved very effective in
preventing breaching of
sea walls.
The Vetiver Network

23. Application of Delta Stabilization in the
Mekong Delta, VIETNAM
The Vetiver Network

24. Vetiver Systems - The Interface between Water and
Structures
Vetiver hedgerows protecting the inside curve of a highway in
Malaysia from river water damage
The Vetiver Network

25. What Is Vetiver GrassWhat Is Vetiver Grass
 Scientific Name;Scientific Name; Vetiveria ZizanioidesVetiveria Zizanioides
Vetiver in Nature
Seedlings

26. Case Study I: X-Island Road Project
Use of Vetiver Technology to control
erosion as a watershed management
strategy for water quality
improvement and natural resource
preservation in southern Guam

28. Cross Island Road ProjectCross Island Road Project
(4treatments)(4treatments)
Burned Vetiver & Sunn Hemp
Tilled Natural Cover

29. Size and slope of the
study plots Management
practices
(Soil surface
conditions)
Soil loss
(tons/ha/yr)Area ha
Length
m
Slope
%
0.0037 21.95 12 Burn 14.13
0.0037 21.95 12 Vetiver 1.47
0.0037 21.95 12 Till 104.75
0.0037 21.95 12 Natural 5.22
Table 2: Annual Soil loss from each plot with different treatments.

31. Case Study II – Sedimentation Mitigation at
the construction site near shoreline
 Pago Bay Site

32. Pago Bay construction site before a big rain

33. Pago Bay construction site after a big rain

34. Mitigation Project

35. Showing runoff path

36. Showing runoff path cont’d

37. At maturity after 6 month

38. Time to cut

39. Cutting at hip height

40. Showing at work trapping sediment

41. More HedgesMore Hedges

42. A year later two additional hedges were planted to ensure healthy
hedges for complete beach protection from sedimentation and Erosion

43. A distant view of the ‘Green Wall’ protecting the ocean

45. Examples of Coastal Areas that could
be protected and/or preserved by using
Vetiver System/ Technology

46. Coastal areas damaged by erosion that could be protected by using this technology

47. Coastal areas that could be protected and preserved using
this technology

48. Thank
You
Si Yuus MaaseSi Yuus Maase

49. Any Question?Any Question?

50. Six years after plantingSix years after planting

52. Vetiver hedgesVetiver hedges