Other Uses, and

Utilization of Vetiver

Narong Chomchalow
Chairman, Continuing Committee,
International Conference on Vetiver;
Coordinator,
Pacific Rim Vetiver Network
 Outline

1. Introduction
2. Other Uses of Vetiver
3. Utilization of Vetiver
4. Discussion
 1. INTRODUCTION
 Dissemination of the VS met
with difficulty as growers do
not receive any direct income
 Ifvetiver can be made used of
in some ways, growers would
earn extra income and willing
to grow vetiver
 1.1 Definition of
Use and Utilization

 Use: Any direct exploitation of

live vetiver plant.
 Utilization: The act of making
profitable use of harvested
(fresh, partly dried, dried)
vetiver plant parts.
 1.2 Use of Live
Vetiver Plant

 Conventional Uses: To perform

specific functions in agric. and non-
agric. applications, without having to
be harvested / processed.
 Non-conventional Uses: Other uses
of live vetiver plant such as forages,
ornamentals & misc. other uses.
 1.3 Utilization of
Harvested Vetiver Plant

 Involves the utilization of dried,

partly dried, or even freshly
harvested leaves and roots with
no processing or with some
degree of processing
 2. OTHER USES
OF VETIVER

2.1 Forages for Livestock

Grazing
2.2 Ornamentals
2.3 Miscellaneous Other
Uses
 2.1 Forages for
Livestock Grazing
 Forage value of freshly cut vetiver leaves is
comparable to other grasses
 Contains insignificant amounts of toxic
substances; thus not
harmful to animals
 The only grass that
provides feed during
drought period
 Native vetiver burnt
in spring to produce
forage for Fulani
livestock in Africa
 2.2 Ornamentals

2.2.1 Landscaping
 Vetiver is a beautiful plant
for gardens, patios, decks, etc.
 Planting close together in line,
vetiver forms a dense, uniform,
and attractive hedge
 Forms beautiful barrier to
unsightly view
2.2.1 Landscaping (Con’t. )

As a Decorative hedge
 On round abouts at
C’mara Municipal
de Portim’o, Portugal
 These hedges hide
from view the traffic that is passing on the
opposite site of the round abouts
 2.2.1 Landscaping
(Con’t.)

Beautify Landscape and

Protect the Environment
 Vetiver hedges stabilize soil
and beautify landscape in
many countries, e.g.
Australia, China, South
Africa
 Also at the Doi Tung
Development Project,
Chiang Rai, Thailand
2.2.1 Landscaping (Con’t.)

Reservoir Landscaping
 In China, vetiver grown on bare bank
of the reservoir
 At KU Sakon Nakhon Campus,
vetiver hedges beautify
scenery of the reservoir
with no erosion of lateritic soil
 2.2.2 Decorative
Potted Plant

Forms a nice bush with green foliages,

some upright, some drooping
 Can be used to decorate
platform, stage:
 In Thailand, decorated
on stage of ICV-2
 In Senegal, grown in
large clay pots for sale
 In Vietnam, to decorate
outside an office
 2.3 Miscellaneous
Other Uses

2.3.1 Wincing the car out from a ditch

 Landcruiser of Scott Grenfelt of Madacasgar WWF
slipped down into a ditch along a road
 An artist wound several strands of vetiver, hooked
the wince to tie-together plants, reveved up the
engine and winced
 Vetiver held the force as the roots are strong
 The car was pulled out with no sweat!
 2.3.2 As field boundaries, sub-
divisions, or separation
between sections of garden plots, etc.

 In West Africa, vetiver is used as a border for

roads, gardens and
cultivated fields to
prevent the extension
of Dub grass
 Many Thai farmers use
vetiver to separate their
fields and vegetable plots
 2.3 Miscellaneous
Other Uses (Con’t.)

2.3.3 As a barrier to prevent dust / heat

A thick and permanent hedge of
vetiver can act as an excellent
barrier to prevent dust and heat
from coming into the properties
 3. UTILIZATION
OF VETIVER

3.1 Agriculture-related activities

3.1.1 Mulch
 Vetiver mulch is durable
and long lasting, provides
shade to plot, and keeps
weed under control
 Applied to vegetable and
field crop plots, at base of
fruit tree, etc.
 3.1.2 Compost

 Vetiver leaves and culms

decompose completely to
become soft, disintegrated
 Vetiver compost contains
major elements such as N,
P, K, Ca, Mg, etc. with a pH
of 7.0
 Vetiver compost provides
humic acid that enhances soil fertility
 3.1.3 Nursery Block
and Planting Medium

Both are produced

from vetiver leaves
and culms by Doi
Tung Development
Project
Products are on
sale with increasing popularity
 3.1.4 Animal feed

 Harvested young vetiver leaves and culms

can be ground to feed fish and livestock
 In India, vetiver planted along the field are
cut every two weeks for use as fodder
 Has optimum level of crude protein,
enough to maximize intake and digestion
of ruminant livestock
 3.1.5 Mushroom
cultivation

 Vetiver leaves and

culms contain chemical
compounds such as
cellulose, hemicellulose,
lignin, crude protein,
minerals – optimum for
mushroom growth
 Oyster, shiitake and
straw mushrooms can be grown on vetiver medium
 3.1 Agriculture-related
Activities (Con’t.)
3.1.6 Botanical Pesticides
Insecticides: Used as mulch, no insect came
near the plot; top and root repel insects in
strawberry plots; root contains nootkatone and
other compounds affecting termite behavior and
physiology
Fungicides: Fungal attacks disappear on vetiver-
mulched plots
Agaricides: Vetiver oil control cow ticks at both
larval and adult stages
 3.1 Agriculture-related
Activities (Con’t.)

3.1.7 Allelopathy
 Few other plants grow in the vicinity of vetiver
clumps
 Certain substances excreted by vetiver have
allelopathic action that inhibits the growth of
other plants
 Extracts of root and culm of vetiver could
inhibit germination of soybean seeds
 Could be used to control weeds
 3.2 Handicraft

3.2.1 From Leaves

* Handy accessories
* Containers
* Decorating materials
* Home appliances

3.2.2 From Roots

* Blinds (tatties)
* Cloth hangers
 3.3 Medicinal
Applications

3.3.1 Traditional Medicines

 Dissolve gallstones

 Reduce fever
 Heal stomach discomfort
 Relief rheumatism, lumbago, headache,
sprain, prostrate cancer, diabetes
 Improve skin condition
 3.3 Medicinal
Applications (Con’t.)

3.3.2 Herbal Drinks

In India: Refreshing drinking water is
made from vetiver roots
In Thailand: Root and leaves in equal
proportions are boiled in water until
the liquid is concentrated; it is taken
as herbal drink
 3.4 Fragrance
 Vetiver roots contain essential oil,
thus can be used to produce
various aromatic products
 Natives of many countries where
vetiver grows produce traditional
fragrant products from vetiver
such as potpourri, soap, hair pomade,
volatile oil for skin treatment, etc.
 3.4.1 Perfumery

 Vetiver oil is used to produce

various fragrant products such as
perfume, deodorant, lotion, soap,
cosmetics, etc.
 Having low volatile rate, it is used
as a fixative for high value
perfumes
 3.4.2 Aromatherapy

 Vetiver oil is popularly used in modern

aromatherapy, helping to:
 balance the activity of sebaceous oil gland
 normalize oily skin and clear acne
 prevent stretch marks of pregnant women
 strengthen central nervous system
 overcome depression, insomnia, anxiety,
stress, tension and nervousness, etc.
 3.4.3 Flavor

 In India, vetiver essence is

used to flavor a soft drink
(Sharbat), syrup, and ice
cream
 3.4.4 Potpourri

 Chopped, dried vetiver roots

can be made into potpourri by
mixing them with dried fragrant
flower petals and spices
 3.5 As an Input of
Construction-related Activities

3.5.1 Roof Thatch

 Rural people in Asia and Africa utilize
vetiver as roof
thatch as it is
durable and
long-lasting
 3.5.2 Hut
 In Senegal, native vetiver leaves
utilized to make simple hut.
 In India, dried roots utilized to
make huts and cabins as they
provide cooling effect during the
summer.
3.5.3 Mud Brick

In Senegal:
Vetiver is utilized in
mud-brick making as
it reduced cracking.
 3.5.4 Prefabricated
Vetiver-Clay Block

 AIT was successful in making such

block to substitute bricks and
columns for house construction
 Comfortable and energy saving
 Labor-based appropriate technology
 3.5.5 Vetiver-Clay
Composite Storage Bin

 Thewalls of the bin were

constructed with vetiver-clay
bundles, coated with cow dung,
mixed with clay and rice husk
 Goodventilation reduces
moisture and temperature
 3.5.5 Vetiver-Clay
Composite Storage Bin
 3.5.6 Cement
Replacement Material

 Low-cost, environmental-friendly,
energy-saving construction material
can be made from vetiver grass ash
as a mortar, especially for the rural
areas
 Can be used as pozzalanic material
3.5.7 Veneer and Fiber Board

The Thai Forestry

Department was
successful in using
vetiver to substitute
wood in making
furniture and interior
decorative appliances
 3.5.8 Particle Board

Vetiver particle board was

experimentally made at AIT by mixing
small pieces of vetiver and adhesives
Put the mixture in form-work, sealed
tightly and applied pressure
Vetiver particle board costs US$ 1.45/m2
which is 40% lower than bagasse board
3.5.9 Straw Bale

 Made from vetiver leaves,

straw bales are almost
free from insect as vetiver
contains repelling
chemicals
 3.6 Containers
made of Vetiver

3.6.1 Pottery: plant pots, glazed ceramic

pots, clay-vetiver pot
 In Senegal, non-fired potteries are made
 In Thailand, plant pots were made of clay,
vetiver and a binder, allowing the user to
plant trees directly into the soil without
removing the pot which disintegrates later
3.6.2 Melamine Utensils

The Royal Project Foundation

was successful in making
good-quality melamine
utensils from vetiver leaves
 3.6.3 Water Containers

Same principle as vertiver-clay

composite, but built on ground

level and used as water container

or small fish pond

3.6.3 Water Containers
 3.7 Energy Sources

3.7.1 Ethanol
 Pretreat vetiver dry leaves with alkaline
and used ‘simultaneous saccharification
fermentation technique’ to convert plant
residue into ethanol
 Yield of 13%, clear in color, pleasing odor
 3.7.2 Green Fuel

 Mixvetiver leaves and culms with

water hyacinth (3:2), compress into
shafts using a cylinder-shaped fuel
squeezer
 Shafts
burn easily, produce little
smoke, yield high temperature
 3.8 Industrial Products

3.8.1 Pulp and Paper

 Pulp suitable for making strawboard
can be made from vetiver by digestion
with lime
 Its chemical pulp can be made into
writing and printing papers, especially
if mixed with long-fibered pulp (30-
40%)
3.8.2 Vetiver Panel

The Royal Project

Foundation (Thailand)
was successful in
making a panel from
vetiver root mass
3.9 Miscellaneous Utilization

3.9.1 Bouquet
 Bundleof cut leaves can be used
as materials of a bouquet, or
decorative plant in containers
such as vase, pot, etc. for display
3.9.2 Mattress and Other Stuffings

 In Ethiopia, vetiver is used as a

primary material for mattress stuffing

 In India, vetiver roots are used as a

stuffing material in ventilating panels

in electric desert coolers
 3.9.3 Cooling Effect

 In India: Vetiver roots are used in making

woven screens, blinds.
 When sprinkled with water, such material
provide cooling effect and pleasant
aromatic air
 Used in rooftop to provide cooling effect
 In poultry house, when air is forced
through wet mat of vetiver roots, cool air is
passed, thus reducing the temp.
 4. DISCUSSION
4.1 Main Objective
of Growing Vetiver
 Mainly to conserve soil and water in agricultural
and non-agricultural applications.
 Other related uses such as envt. protection, heavy
metal absorption, embankment stabilization, etc.
are also envisaged.
 His Majesty has repeatedly summoned that uses
other than the ones above should not be over-
emphasized to nullify the main use of vetiver.
 4.2 Growing Vetiver as
Cash Crop for Utilization

 Growing in the field, based on

double-row system; one to harvest,
the other to conserve soil, is
recommended
 Growing in bags helps in harvesting
the roots and makes use of
degraded land
 4.3 Ecological vs. Economic
Benefit of Growing Vetiver

 Ecological benefit in preventing soil erosion, etc.

 Economic benefit in reducing the cost of
stabilization of highway slopes and embankments
 Ecological potential in environmental protection
 These benefits not recognized by small-scale
farmers as they have to sacrifice their small land
 A challenge to extension workers to convince them
 4.4 Botanical Pesticides
from Vetiver

 Dried, chopped roots and tops of vetiver

can be used as insecticides and
fungicides, esp. to make mulch for
organic farming.
 A report from LSU reveals that vetiver
roots contain nootkatone that repels
termites; thus vetiver mulch can
substitute insecticides.