| Vetiver Grass |
| Parkway Partners - 1137 Baronne, St., New Orleans, LA, 70113 504-620-2224 |
It grows both on highly acidic (< pH4) and alkaline soils (pH11). Its roots will
grow to depths of 3 - 4 meters . It is not effected seriously by pests or
diseases. The grass is easy and cheap to establish, and needs minimum
maintenance.
General Use:
Apart for soil conservation uses vetiver is now an important grass for the
stabilization of road and railroad embankments, river banks, canals, bridge
abutments, landslide prevention, water quality improvement, waste
management, etc. The deep roots anchor the plant and hold soil together
on hillsides and contours. Vetiver grass is highly tolerant to extreme soil
conditions and is often used to rehabilitate contaminated lands.
Termite Prevention:
The chemical nootkatone, which is present in vetiver roots, repels termites.
"The results of our work show that these compounds are able to disrupt
termite behavior and physiology," said Dr. Gregg Henderson. "Ingestion of
wood treated with vetiver oil or nootkatone causes the progressive death of
the protozoa living inside the termite," Henderson said. "Killing these
microorganisms, on which these insects rely for the digestion of their
wooden food, would mean a progressive decline of a termite colony."
Levee Protection:
One of the problems with levees in New Orleans has been the infestation of
mature trees by Formosan subterranean termites. The termites not only
undermine the levees but also feed on the trees, weakening them and
contributing to their tendency to topple easily in high winds. Falling trees
that pulled their roots out of the ground are suspected of contributing to the
weakening and eventual breaches of levees in New Orleans during
Hurricane Katrina in 2005. "We think vetiver will keep termites out of the
levees, but we’re not 100 percent certain," Henderson said. "That’s why we’
are undertaking this research."
grow to depths of 3 - 4 meters . It is not effected seriously by pests or
diseases. The grass is easy and cheap to establish, and needs minimum
maintenance.
General Use:
Apart for soil conservation uses vetiver is now an important grass for the
stabilization of road and railroad embankments, river banks, canals, bridge
abutments, landslide prevention, water quality improvement, waste
management, etc. The deep roots anchor the plant and hold soil together
on hillsides and contours. Vetiver grass is highly tolerant to extreme soil
conditions and is often used to rehabilitate contaminated lands.
Termite Prevention:
The chemical nootkatone, which is present in vetiver roots, repels termites.
"The results of our work show that these compounds are able to disrupt
termite behavior and physiology," said Dr. Gregg Henderson. "Ingestion of
wood treated with vetiver oil or nootkatone causes the progressive death of
the protozoa living inside the termite," Henderson said. "Killing these
microorganisms, on which these insects rely for the digestion of their
wooden food, would mean a progressive decline of a termite colony."
Levee Protection:
One of the problems with levees in New Orleans has been the infestation of
mature trees by Formosan subterranean termites. The termites not only
undermine the levees but also feed on the trees, weakening them and
contributing to their tendency to topple easily in high winds. Falling trees
that pulled their roots out of the ground are suspected of contributing to the
weakening and eventual breaches of levees in New Orleans during
Hurricane Katrina in 2005. "We think vetiver will keep termites out of the
levees, but we’re not 100 percent certain," Henderson said. "That’s why we’
are undertaking this research."
| Vetiver Experts |
| Don Heumann Djh808@aol.com Cell: (504) 231 5681 Donald Heumann Greenhouses: (504) 682-0866 Rohm’s Floral Designs (504) 835-8565 |
| Dr. Gregg Henderson Professor, Entomology Department LSU AgCenter GRHenderson@agcenter.lsu.edu (225) 578-1831 |