Ist International Webinar on Vetiver Grass Technology 2021

 Central Bicol State University of Agriculture of the Philippines  https://cbsua.edu.ph/ is holding a webinar on Vetiver Grass Technology on September 28th 2021. Dick Grimshaw, Paul Truong and Robinson Vanoh of TVNI  will be participating. See attached program:

Black Vetiver - Chrysopogon nigritanus

C. nigritanus on a flood plain in northern Ghana

More on Chrysopogon nigritanus.  I have continued investigations into this species of vetiver - common name ”Black vetiver”. It is found in nearly all sub-saharan African countries generally in association with river flood plain and seasonally flooded areas. For example the peripheral  areas of the Kafue River flats in Zambia, and the flooded areas of the Niger and Senegal rivers of West Africa. Its main uses include medicinal, freshening drinking water, thatch, handicrafts, forage (when young after burning), and farm boundary marking.

It appears only to propagate naturally from seed in these permanent/semi-permanent waterlogged areas.  Outside of such areas seeds either do not germinate or die after germination, and if used domestically the plant is propagated through slips.

The species appears to be retreating. Tony Cisse who farms near Dakar, Senegal only grows C.zizanioides descended from Chris Juliard’s importation (ex South Africa) initiative (1990s). He writes "Traditionally the most common use for C.nigritanus in Senegal has been for the roots that are added to drinking water. This is the common way people recognize the plant and its name in local languages. Whereas it would seem logical that it should be grown locally, there is now very little evidence of this. Vetiver roots are imported from neighboring Mali, and sold in small bundles. I have heard it was used in the past (possibly over 60 years ago or more) to demarcate fields, but I have never seen nor heard of it growing naturally, at least in the western areas of Senegal.  Reasons for this are likely to be associated with climate change and the drop in annual rainfall. There are very few areas that can be designated as flood plains, and standing water and ponds are generally very rare if they exist for more than a few weeks at most during the rains, and so this could account for this absence, although still present in Mali. The water table in much of Senegal is below the reach of vetiver roots. It is possible that there are parts of Eastern or northern Senegal along the river where the right conditions for C. nigritanus exist, but I have not been there to observe".  In Nigeria and other African countries, where new dams have been constructed, the downstream flood plains are no longer flooded and wild vetiver seems to be a diminishing component of the ecosystem.

C. nigritanus hedgerow for erosion control - Mambila Plateau Nigeria

Sterile non invasive C.zizanioides remains the preferred choice for all Vetiver System applications. Even though Nigerian research does support C. nigritanus for erosion control and phytoremediation applications note C. nigritanus has NOT been tested for steep slope stabilization and virtually no work has been carried out to identify many of its characteristics - depth, tensile strength, shear strength of its roots; pest control properties, forage value, and others) I would recommend its use for erosion control and phytoremedial applications where it is a native plant, and then only after exhausting all efforts at locating and propagating C. zizanioides. In either case propagation has to be by clump division, so it would be best to use the superior and well tested C. zizanioides particularly where country wide programs are developed and where many nurseries will be required.

C. nigritanus grown on the campus of Abuja University, Nigeria.

Further research on C. nigritanus should be encouraged. Trials might well identify many more characteristics similar to those of C. zizanioides and may also better delimit areas where it is most suitable for application. Both species are very closely related and appear to behave rather similarly. Determining those differences would reinforce future recommendations.

Effluent crisis in densely populated countries – one possible solution – Vetiver System

Vetiver constructed wetland still working
after 12 years

Each time I open up Google Earth and look at various locations in India I see densely populated rural and urban centers, and know that many of them have no formal waste disposal systems, and are unlikely to have such facilities in the foreseeable future. In the mean time the problem multiplies as the population continues to grow.  The options are: (1) do nothing - not acceptable (2) wait for government to do something - slow and huge funding constraints (3) look for solutions that may not be perfect but will at least move towards some mitigation of the problem, (4) find solutions that depend heavily on community involvement. and supporting voluntary organizations. The problems if not at crisis level now, will be a crisis in the foreseeable future - that means soon – it also means that options 3 and 4 have to be given serious consideration.

Watts Bridge Airfield, Queensland, Vetiver Waste Water treatment update

Watts Bridge constructed Vetiver wetland
Coordinates: -27.099224º  152.459996º

This constructed wetland has been operating since 2005 and is still working well. So well that effluent throughput could be doubled. Here is some comparative data from one of the test wells (#4) for years 2008 and (2017): pH:7 (6.5); P mg/l: 1.2 (0.25); Ammonium N: 0.13 (0.1); Nitrite N: 003 (0.022); Nitrate N: 0.097 (0.063), Nitrite + Nitrate N: 0.01 (0.041); Fecal coliform cfu/100ml: 10 (10). This system was installed by Paul Truong (Veticon). Note that out of the four test wells only well #4 had water in it. All the others were dry in 2017.  

This link takes you to an earlier presentation by Paul Truong including images and details: 

http://www.vetiver.org/AUS_WATTS%20BRIDGE_effluent.pdf

This  type of vetiver application is highly replicable, low cost and efficient

Here is an update analysis of sample taken August 28 2017:

Total Phosphorus as P mg/L 0.10

Ammonia N mg/L 0.064

Nitrite N mg/L 0.002

Nitrite+Nitrate as N mg/L 0.096

Nitrate N (Calc) mg/L 0.094

-->

Thermo tolerant Coliforms (MF) cfu/100mL

The Vetiver System and India - It takes a generation!

A recent quote from a senior official in West Bengal India:

"Soil erosion is one of the largest environmental issues facing the earth today; and the river banks region of India, with heavy rainfall, is particularly affected. Erosion devastates infrastructural activities- landslides, erosion by river and flood water take heavy toll of developed infrastructure. From an engineer’s perspective sustainable asset management has posed as a gargantuan task because of soil erosion. Traditional hard engineering is now found to be inconsistent with the three pillars of sustainability - economy, social and environmental. Hard engineering interventions to prevent erosion have been attempted over decades in the region, incurring large financial and environmental costs, and with limited success. This in combination with limited State budgets makes finding an alternative, low cost, environmentally sustainable solution imperative. One such method that shows considerable promise is Vetiver grass."

30 years ago (a generation ago) John Greenfield and I, when working for the World Bank in India, re-introduced the Vetiver Grass Technology (VGT) as an alternative to the engineering approach  - the latter did not work very well - too expensive, heavily subsidized, badly maintained, and mostly ineffective.  We were not very popular for promoting vetiver grass hedgerows as components of World Bank funded projects (Indian Watershed Projects in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh States) as an alternative and better technological and economic solution; questions were tabled in the Indian Parliament in New Delhi, some people even wanted to ban the technology!

Well, as you can see from the above quote, we have come a long way from those days, thanks to a new generation of professionals and the pressure created by climate change and social needs that demand alternative, effective and lower cost solutions.

he Vetiver System for Quality – Prevention and Treatment of Contaminated Water and Land

Coincident to the Climate Change meeting in Paris, TVNI has published the Second Edition of “The Vetiver System for Quality – Prevention and Treatment of Contaminated Water and Land” authored by Paul Truong of Australia and Luu Thai Danh of Vietnam.  The publication updates research and fields experience carried out by various scientists and users around the world showing the importance and success of the Vetiver System for dealing with polluted water and land.  The results and methods applied demonstrates the uniqueness of Vetiver grass as a plant that has special characteristics in its stand alone mode, as well as its interesting symbiotic relationship with other organisms associated with its rhizosphere that enable Vetiver to remove toxic chemicals from both soil and water.  A plant that is so well behaved, that can clean up polluted water and land contaminated by heavy metals and other toxic chemicals, and that can function efficiently over a huge range of soil, water, and climatic conditions, is truly incredible.  This publication is a testament to many contributors to the development of the Vetiver System, especially to Paul Truong who has dedicated a good part of his life to the development of  “Vetiver Phytoremediation Technology”.  Hard copy of this book (containing nearly one hundred photos, figures, and tables) is available in early December from amazon.com, and can be viewed on TVNI’s website: http://www.vetiver.org/TVN_Water_quality%202%20ed.pdf
Dick Grimshaw

VETIVER AND COLD TOLERANCE.

Matthew Huffine's Vetiver in Winter
Mohave Desert, California

Paul Truong, TVNI's Technical Director has updated information relating to the tolerance of vetiver to cold. His slide presentation - COLD TOLERANCE OF VETIVER - should be of interest to users who live in areas of hot summers and cold winters - especially in desert areas where winter night time temperatures are very low, but have high winter day time temperatures that reduce the possibility of freezing and killing the vetiver crown- we have to thank Matthew Huffine who lives in the high desert (Mohave) of California for this information. The presentation shows that Vetiver can survive very cold winter, but dies when the crown is frozen in the ground. In very cold, frosted or under snow cover the outside plants of the thick sward protect the interior part, which remains green and actively treating effluent. Under extremely cold and dry conditions, its shoots turn brown but new growth resumes from underground buds.

Dick Grimshaw

Some Interesting Reading for the New Year (2015)

Central Arizona -
Where has all the soil
gone?

Greetings!  May all our readers have a useful year in 2015.  I hope that many of you will be able to join us for the 6th International Vetiver Conference to be held in Da Nang, Vietnam from May 5-8th. Details at:  http://www.icv6.org/eng/  I am now back in a very foggy and cool Pacific North West, having had a few weeks of sun in southern California and Arizona. The impact of drought in these two states is pretty dramatic and makes one realize that a lot more should be done to improve our soil and water conservation measures - whatever the methods might be, and wherever located.

I have been collecting a few links to some Vetiver items/news that some of you  might be interested in.  Here they are:

Indonesian environmental volunteers embrace the Vetiver System

President Jokowi's Head Advisor,
 Ret.Gen. Hendropriyono and Irma Hutabarat

Vetiver System has been used in Indonesia for at least 20 years, and in particular the East Bali Poverty Project used VS for a number of effective applications.  Other groups and companies have used VS applications ranging from soil conservation to waste water treatment.  Now there are some new players who could have a significant impact on the widespread promotion of VS.  President Jokowi is a keen environmentalist and intends to do something about the deteriorating environment.

Vetiver System - A Solution for Urban Waste Water Treatment

In most cities, towns, and villages in developing countries there is no connection to a public sewage/waste water treatment.  Where there is a connection the effluent is often discharged without treatment to near by rivers. Where there is no sewage system some properties may have septic tanks, and the majority of these leak and mis-function.  The result is that water tables, water bodies, and the local environment are polluted with consequential increases in foul smelling air, undrinkable water, and increased water borne diseases.  One such an example, described in a World Bank report on Indonesia describes the city of Palembang, South Sumatra, with a population of over a million having no direct sewage connections, and 70% of the households having septic tanks, of which 30% mis-function.

Correcting this situation with conventional costly technologies for Palembang, and tens of thousands of other urban centers in the tropics will be prohibitive and will take decades. It is essential to start installing low cost, flexible, and sustainable remedies, that might not be perfect, but are able to reduce the problems significantly.

Treating industrial waste water with Vetiver System

Here is a nice example from Paul Truong of how vetiver can be used for industrial or agricultural waste water treatment using floating pontoons (best design yet) and by planting on the banks of the lagoons. There is great potential to apply the Vetiver System for waste water treatment not only on industrial scale but also for smaller treatment needs such as single households, small hospitals, hotels, schools, refugee camps, etc. using the alternative "wetland vetiver application".

Dick Grimshaw

New Small Scale Waste Water Treatment Model using Vetiver System

Paul and Nicholas Truong of Veticon, Australia have come up with a relatively simple and fully tested model for calculating the number of vetiver plants required for treating waste water and sewage effluent. The model will be particularly useful for individual domestic waste water treatment and small scale community needs. The model was initially designed for small Colombian farmers who need to treat the effluent from their coffee processing plants.  The paper http://www.vetiver.org/LAICV2F/2%20Environmental%20Protection/E1Truong_TE.pdf describing the model, and the presentation  http://www.vetiver.org/LAICV2F/2%20Environmental%20Protection/E1Truong_PpE.pdf that goes with it also contains images of various layouts that might be used.  For further background on waste water management using the Vetiver System see this paper http://www.vetiver.org/LAICV2F/0%20Plenary/P3Truong_TE.pdf and presentation http://www.vetiver.org/LAICV2F/0%20Plenary/P3Truong_PpE.pdf.  Thank you Paul and Nick!!  This work of the Truong's should be widely shared, and should be particularly useful to communities throughout the tropics or where vetiver can be grown.

Dick Grimshaw

AUSTRALIA: Vetiver System for treating waste water from sewage facilities and effluent from landfills

If you haven't yet used vetiver for treating contaminated water this may help to convince you.  Paul Truong has kindly shared some new (2013) photos of vetiver being used for treating 350-500 KL/day of waste water at a sewage plant at Boonah on 3.5 ha of vetiver; and 100 KL/day of effluent at Stotts Creek Landfill on 8 ha of vetiver.  The former was established in 2011 and the latter in 2003.  Both continue to function as designed.  You can find earlier descriptions of these two vetiver projects at http://www.vetiver.org/AUS_boonah%20waste..pdf and http://www.vetiver.org/discus/messages/7/2-08_Tweed_Leachate-678.pdf
Dick Grimshaw

Students in Brazil treat waste water using VS

This is the way to go!! Get  the schools involved - see following report from Bruna Lage in Brazil

"A group of environmental engineering students with support from the state school, Herbert de Souza, developed a project that may help treat sewage. The technology that treats the waste water before disposal to a sewage pond, should ease situations where the 4000 residents of Santana do Paraiso have no access to formal sewage treatment plants. Currently all the sewage from the neighborhood is discharged into an untreated pond. 

Luiz Claudio da Silva Costa, a student of environmental engineering, developed the project with three other people, from a partnership between school and students. The students decided to propose a solution for the neighborhood and the school in terms of environmental education. Luiz explains that studies on the environmental and social issues are relevant to the project, and noted that the school had good slope and sufficient area available. We used sand, gravel and pipe, and vetiver grass. The cost of implementing the project was about $750. Luiz explained that the grass is used normally for slopes tabilization, however, but is also used for sewage treatment in other countries such as China and Thailand. We verified its efficiency of wastewater treatment and saw that it has features to adapt to any type of soil,

   

The sewage from a school bathroom is directed to a masonry box 40 x 40 cm, which basically functions as a primary treatment, for the retention of coarse solids such as paper and hair. It then passes through layers of sand and gravel and in the background, has a perforated pipe that collects all the treated sewage, which falls on a slope and in the school drop box that is connected to the collector of the district. "This will have wastewater treated, coming to have 69.2% result, proven in the analysis. We started the project about a month ago and we can already observe its efficiency" said Luiz.

According to the school principal, Santana do Paraiso is an unusual city because it has pockets of high and low density. The sewage treatment in the traditional manner would be inconsistent with the city. "We were approached with the proposal to develop a sewage treatment pilot here at school and found it interesting in view the need, and also because the school and its students would spread the knowledge," he said.  The school is providing the land, according to the director, and is contributing to local society with a new treatment alternative. Students participate in monitoring the system and the process, which becomes an environmental education program. "We have children involved from the beginning, ((elementary school through the 3rd year of high school. They also contribute using the bathroom that contributes to the waste water!  The intent of the project, explains Luiz, is trying to help cities that do not have treatment. "We intend to publish the article and spread the idea, leading to rural communities and contributing to the environment," he said. About the durability of the season, the student explains that a maintenance center well done and well monitored, can last about 20 years without maintenance and with the same efficiency".

From Reporter: Bruna Lage