The Effects of Vetiver Grass (Vetiver Zizanodes L.) on Soil Fertility Enhancement, Soil Water Conservation, Carbon Sequestration and Essential oil Productions A: Review

Abstract

Vetiver (Vetiver zizanioides L.) is a perennial grass is one such species that could be grown all across the globe from tropical to Mediterranean climate. The grass fits well in ecosystem service which contributing to regional and global economies for its multifarious environmental application and offers sustain able opportunities for carbon sequestration. Vetiver is the high tolerance of a wide range of extreme soil conditions, such as high and low pH, high aluminum, high salinity, and high sodicity. Vetiver grass is a very simple, practical, inexpensive, low maintenance and very effective means of soil and water conservation, sediment control, land stabilization and rehabilitation. It is also environmentally friendly and when planted in single rows it will form a hedge which is very effective in slowing and spreading runoff water, thereby reducing soil erosion, conserving soil moisture. In addition, the extremely deep and massively thick root system of vetiver grass binds the soil and at the same time makes it very difficult for it to be dislodged under high water velocity. the use of vetiver grass improved soil quality through improving CEC, soil moisture content, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium contents. Carbon sequestration implies capture and secure storage of Carbon that would otherwise be emitted to or remain in the atmosphere. Carbon sequestration is an efficient strategy to mitigate climate change. Vetiver holds prominence as one of the world’s best carbon-sequestering plants. Four mature vetiver plants would sequester the same amount of atmospheric carbon as one fast-growing poplar tree, the best of all trees for carbon sequestration. Vetiver oil and its fractions are heavily used for blending in oriental types of perfumes, cosmetics and aromatherapy. It also has antifungal, antibacterial, anticancer, anti inflammatory and antioxidant activities, opens the way to application in the pharmaceutical industry.

Keywords: Carbon sequestration, organic matter, rehabilitation, soil erosion, vetiver

DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/13-5-04

Publication date:March 31^st 2022