Page 10 - Agric Info Newsletter 02 2017

like tropical, semi-tropical, and Medi-
terranean climates.
It is a sterile, non-invasive plant with a

stoloniferous root system that enables
hedgerows to remain where planted.
The plant has a wild fire resistant com-
pound. The long, straight, razor-edge
leaves filters the runoff while the deep
roots retain the soil and help water infil-
tration.

A good hedge will reduce rainfall run
off by as much as seventy percent and
sediment by as much as ninety percent.
The sediments accumulated behind the
hedgerow gradually forms a long last-
ing terrace protected by the vetiver. The
Grass barrier placed along road side

plant can be grown in a nursery for about three and spread horizontally about seven feet. The ter-
months. races usually form after three to four years.
It grows in clumps and are then divided into plant- Vetiver grass can be used as a direct or indirect
ing slips of about three tillers each. These are then farm income product in rural and community de-
planted fifteen centimeters apart on the contour to velopment. It can impact the poor, not only in
create a barrier of stiff grass at maturity. It can protecting and restoring farm lands, but also can
grow up to five feet in height with tall stems and generate revenue to improve the quality of life
long thin leaves with brownish purple flowers. The and resources. The production and selling of
root grow downward with a depth of thirteen feet vetiver byproducts can provide income for fami-
lies. The essential oils derived from the dried and
chopped roots of the grass, can be used to make
herbal remedies.

These oils which contain benzoic acid, vetivene,
valerenol, alpha and beta vetivone, valencene and
other elements are used as analgesic, muscle re-
laxant, skin tonic and aromatherapy to solve
medical issues. The vetiver grass is also used in
Ayurveda science which uses herbs or a combi-
nation of herbs and other materials in its practice.

In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the chaff was
used long ago to make thatch roofs and bed mat-
tresses and is still used to make mats and other
crafts today. It is also used as feed for animals
during the dry season when other forage plants

Grass Barrier placed along river bed. have either died or become unpalatable.