Vetiver a solution to a farmer's nightmare

Virtues of vetiver
The quickest way to fall in love with vetiver [ vetiveria zizanioides ] is to count the many ecologically gentle ways in which this simple, hardy, Cinderella grass can serve and better our lives.For centuries, Indian farmers have survived on slopes and steep hills by planting this grass along contour lines to prevent rain water runoff, soil erosion and loss of soil fertility. In Tamil it is known as ‘vetiver’, in Malayalam ‘ramaccham’ and in Hindi ‘khas khas’. Its fibrous roots grow three metres into the soil binding it and increasing porosity which in turn aids rain water percolation. Its crown can grow over a metre high. It is a hardy plant that tolerates any type of soil- saline, degraded, polluted, drought prone or water logged.

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