TVNI -- A new on line FORUM

TVNI -- FORUM.  - We have set up a new discussion forum (embedded in TVNI website) www.vetiver.org/flux. At the same time we have closed down the two Vetiver Google groups as they were not used much and had become fragmented. The old "Discussion Board" has also been closed, but old (and quite useful) posts can be found at: http://www.vetiver.org/discus_admin_1395410885/backups/145489897011074211214266-board-topics.html. The new forum should be used for serious discussion, particularly for some very specific issues and and subjects of special interest. For example all discussion relating to the new International Vetiver Grass Tracking app will be on that forum. We invite you to view the forum and join it. Please note that at this time it is not possible to upload attachments to the Forum, all though it will take images.

INTERNATIONAL VETIVER GRASS TRACKING (IVGT) SYSTEM. !!! NOW OPERATIONAL !!! - NEW

Dr. Sarawut Ninsawut, Professor Remote Sensing; GIS, Department of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), School of Engineering and Technology (SET), Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand and his team together with The Royal Development Projects Board, and The Thai Land Development Department have now launched the International Vetiver Grass Tracking (IVGT) System to track vetiver application site data world wide. The user interactive site will allow free registration of users and others associated with the Vetiver System to locate new and existing sites, update them, and add quantitative data and imagery. Non registered public viewers will be able to view sites and see summarized global data associated with the sites. IVGT will be administered by Thai and TVNI "Administrators", will be moderated by "Surveyors" and will have a registered ground level membership of "Investigators" who may own their own vetiver sites or who can enter new sites on behalf of other vetiver users. The IVGT will be under the oversight of the Thai Land Development Department (LDD). It is intended that IVGT will follow the principles of Wikipedia - on trust and honest input, with minimum interference by "Surveyor" monitors. Fake vetiver sites will be delete by administrators. The many Vetiver System application sites will be searchable by application site and by country.

There are three internet platforms that support IVGT:
(1) computer based at https://ivgt.ldd.go.th/vetivertrack/ (operational). (2) Android app from Playstore called IVGT - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ivgt.app (available). (3) iOS app currently under review by Apple. All three platforms have the same capability.
TVNI has set up a new forum at http://www.vetiver.org/flux to cover a wide range of discussion and has one topic dedicated to IVGT where related announcement and discussion can be read.
Some of the advantages of using IVGT include:L

•  provides real time data on the location, state and use of VS plantings, from the village to the country level.
• an be used as a very effective monitoring device for VS introduced under community and other programs/projects
•  enables both the public and other interested parties to identify site locations of specific application types that can be identified and visited in the field
•   identifies vetiver nursery sites where plant material is available for sale - useful for potential buyers and a marketing tool for producers.
• for commercial vetiver application companies (e.g. landscapers, waste water treatment companies) a means to pin point and show case their work.
• provides the means for IVGT users at all levels to work closer together leading to other future group and cooperative initiatives, as well as help attract development financing at community and or application level
•   is expected to bring experienced and younger VS activists into the management of TVNI
•   help promote VS globally

VETIVER FOR STEM BORER CONTROL OF RICE

Twenty counties in China's Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces are planting vetiver as an ecological engineering method (trap crop) for the control of two stem borer species - Chilo suppressalis (striped stem borer) and Sesamia inferens (pink stem borer). The results are very encouraging and it appears that rice farmers are excited with the significant increase in protection (70%) against stem borer damage and as a result a reduction in pesticide use and cost. Stem borer populations on rice decreased by up to 84% when vetiver rows were planted 50 meters apart and 3-5 meter apart in the row (in most cases hedgerows on the paddy field boundaries). A number of research papers have been published in China that describe why vetiver is such an effective trap crop. First, there are indications that some of the unique oils in vetiver when acting together act as a pheromone - volatiles - that attract the stem borer moths. Secondly vetiver contains toxic substances, which have lethal effect on the larvae that inhibit the esterase and cytochrome P450 enzyme activities, leading to the function loss of larvae in detoxification and metabolism. Additionally, compared to rice, reduced nutrients in vetiver cannot meet the demand of the larvae, and led to digestive function and physiological activity disorder and ultimately death. For newcomers to this topic you should be aware that the maize stem borer moth also is attracted by vetiver where it lays its eggs, thus reducing damage to the adjacent maize crop. Copies of the Chinese research papers relating to this topic (all with English abstracts) are:

Rice Pest Management by Ecological Engineering: A Pioneering Attempt in China
Optimal planting pattern of trap plant vetiver grass, Vetiveria zizanioides, for controlling rice striped stem borer, Chilo suppressalis
Effects of Vetiver Grass, Vetiveria zizanioides, on the Activities of detoxification of enzymes and acetylcholinesterase in the pink stem borer Sesamia inferens larvae
The Lethal Mechanism of Trap Plant, Vetiveria zizianioides, Against the Larvae of Chilo suppressalis (Striped Rice Stem Borer)
The effects of spraying on host plants on the oviposition preference of Asia Pink stem borer Sesamia inferens
Effects of Trap Plant, Vetiver Grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) on Nutritional and Digestive Enzyme Activities of Pink Stem Borer (Sesamia inferens) Larvae

Electrophysiological responses of the rice striped stem borer Chilo suppressalis to volatiles of the trap plant vetiver grass (Vetiveria
zizanioides L.)

Vetiver System for Land Restoration

If you are interested in land restoration, this video from Ecuador, by a man who knows what he is talking about, is highly recommended

Vetiver System - Vetiver Grass Technology Applications

Vetiver Grass is an absolute unique plant for many reasons, but its most impressive characteristics are that it can be grown successfully in virtually every country with a warm to hot climate, and for a large range of different applications covering a number of critical sectors relating to the environment.  Here is a list of these applications with links to some short photo presentations which helps put this plant into perspective.  Note "high resolution images are also available - click on button near bottom of table.

THE VETIVER_ SYSTEM -- OVERVIEW
VETIVER_ SYSTEM AND CLIMATE CHANGE
ABOUT VETIVER - THE PLANT	PROPAGATION & PLANTING
AGRICULTURAL USES	FORAGE AND BIOMASS
ON FARM SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION	LANDSCAPING
LAND REHABILITATION	MINE REHABILITATION
MINE REHABILITATION LARGE SCALE APPLICATIONS	COASTLINE STABILIZATION
BRIDGE PROTECTION	HIGHWAY STABILIZATION
PUBLIC UTILITY STABILIZATION	STEEP SLOPE STABILIZATION
RURAL ROAD STABILIZATION	RAILROAD STABILIZATION
UPLAND FLOOD CONTROL	LOWLAND DIKES & LEVEE STABILIZATION
RIVER BANK STABILIZATION	DAM STABILIZATION
LANDFILL TREATMENT	EFFLUENT DISPOSAL
HANDICRAFTS	OTHER USES
HIGH RESOLUTION FILES OF ABOVE APPLICATIONS
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