30 June
HAVE you ever heard of the lost villages in landslide along the Ayeyar Waddy river bank, or the landslides in hilly regions of Myanmar, or the flash flood caused by heavy rain? Do you aware of the salted field as aftermaths of Nargis, and soil erosion by deforest-ation, and toxic plantations caused by industries where no plant can be grown? These problems are causing annually, affecting national economy. These are massive problems required massive en-gineering works which will cost billions of budgets. However, there is one inexpensive natural solution: the Vetiver grass.
Growing Vetiver has been an economic way of protecting natural disasters and to sustain fertility of soil for agriculture in many countries such as Laos, Thailand, china, Australia, Costa Rica, and Cambodia and so on. They can be grown in any type of soil, even in acidic or salty land. They can eliminate arsenic, lead, magnesium in soil and able to absorb soluble chemicals thus purify water. They can be widely used in purifying toxic water from industries and gold mines and, retaining the earthworks caused by exploiting resources.
Vetiver, Chrysopogon zizanioides, is an annual plant native to India. It has long instinct roots which grow vertically into the soil. The roots are small and curly but rigid and extend to 2-4 meter (6-ft to 13-ft) depth within the first year. Unlike the other grass which form horizontally spreading, mat-like root system. When the plants are grown 6 inches apart in rail on horizontal ground, they can perform as natural soil retaining wall. The rails need to be grown 3 fts apart. They also need to be vertically grown on streams and river banks to endure the water flow. When the roots in the rail join each other and form a network, they act as natural retaining wall for the soil. The stems are erect and stiff. The web of long, rigid stems and leaves decelerate the flow of water and the roots prevent soil from sheet corrosion. The more they are grown nearer the faster they cooperate and work. They need to get water regularly for about 3months and be taken care for 6months. After that, they barely need to be nurtured.
A thin green line of vetiver around paddy and maize fields will act as shield and protect the fields from pests. The long stiff leaves of Vetiver attract the pests especially termite and stem borers to lay eggs but the chance of lava survival on leaflets is extremely low. When the leaves are cut and used as mulch beneath the plants, it keeps moisture in soil longer and reduces the growth of weed among the plants. By growing the rails of grass on infertile plantation before growing anything, it will nourish the soil because their roots and stems will seize the minerals that flow along by the rain and keep them in the soil. When they are cultivated together with certain crops, it will balance nutrient level of soil thus reduce using chemical fertilizer, sustaining agricul-tural productivity. Although they produce flowers and fruit, they will not take over the crops because they can only spread across by the roots.
Vetiver has been broadly growing and researched in Thailand under King Bhu-mibol Adulyadej’s royal pro-ject since 22th June, 1991. In Thailand, they use it not only to prevent landslide and ag-riculture but also in making handicrafts, handmade bags and mats. The essential oil produced by distillation of roots can be used as bugs and mosquitos repellent and, can be apply in soap and cosmetic industries as anti-fungal and anti-microbial agent. Inhaling the oil can reduce stress and relieve headache. Their leaf paste can be used for rheuma-tism and sprains. Pha-lan in Chin state has been growing vetiver over the hill slopes un-der the plan of vice president U Hennery Ven Hteeyu for preventing landslide and, it is hoped to be more extensively grown.
By Alocia
Ref: Myanmar vetiver network
