Vetiver is derived from theTamilவெட்டிவேர் (veṭṭivēr) meaning 'root that is dug up', via Frenchvétyver.[2] In Northern India it is also calledkhus ('grass', not to be confused withkhus khus, which refers topoppy seed).[citation needed]
During the reign ofHarshavardhan,Kannauj became the biggest centre for aromatic trade and for the first time, a vetiver tax was introduced.[3]
Starting in 1990, the World Bank promoted use of vetiver grass by farmers for soil and water management in countries like India, Nepal, Thailand, and Nigeria.[4]
Vetiver grows to 150 centimetres (5 ft) high and forms clumps as wide,[citation needed] and under favorable conditions, the erectculms can reach 3 m (9.8 ft) in height.[5] The stems are tall and the leaves are long, thin, and rather rigid. The flowers are brownish-purple. Unlike most grasses, which form horizontally, spreading mat-like root systems, vetiver's roots grow downward 2–4 m (7–13 ft) in depth.[6]
The vetiverbunch grass has agregarious habit and grows in tufts.Shoots growing from the underground crown make the plantfrost andwildfire resistant, and allow it to survive heavygrazing pressure. Theleaves can become up to 300 cm (10 ft) long and 8 mm (3⁄8 in) wide.[7] Thepanicles are 15–30 cm (6–12 in) long and have whorled, 25–50 mm (1–2 in) longbranches.[7] Thespikelets are in pairs, and there are threestamens.
Theplant stems are erect and stiff. They can survive deep water flow. Under clear water, the plant can survive up to two months.
Theroot system of vetiver is finely structured and very strong. It can grow 3–4 m (10–13 ft) deep within the first year. Vetiver has neitherstolons norrhizomes. Because of all these characteristics, the vetiver plant is highlydrought-tolerant and can help to protect soil againstsheet erosion. In case ofsediment deposition, new roots can grow out of buriednodes.
The most commonly used commercial genotypes of vetiver aresterile, and because vetiver propagates itself by smalloffsets instead of undergroundstolons, these genotypes are noninvasive and can easily be controlled by cultivation of the soil at the boundary of the hedge. However, care must be taken, because fertile genotypes of vetiver have become invasive.[10]
Vetiver grass is grown for many purposes. The plant helps to stabilisesoil and protects it againsterosion, but it can also protectfields against pests andweeds. Vetiver has favourable qualities foranimal feed. From the roots,oil is extracted and used forcosmetics,aromatherapy, herbal skincare andayurvedic soap. Itsfibrous properties make it useful forhandicrafts,ropes and more.[12]
Several aspects of vetiver make it an excellenterosion control plant in warmer climates. Vetiver's roots grow almost exclusively downward, 2–4 m (7–13 ft), which is deeper than sometree roots.[6] This makes vetiver an excellent stabilizing hedge for stream banks, terraces andrice paddies, and protects soil fromsheet erosion. The roots bind to the soil, therefore it can not dislodge. Vetiver has been used to stabilize railway cuttings/embankments in geologically challenging situations in an attempt to prevent mudslides and rockfalls, such as theKonkan railway in western India. The plant also penetrates and loosenscompacted soils.[6] Vetiver was advocated for erosion control in Thailand by the lateKing Bhumibol.[14]
The close-growingculms help to blocksurface water runoff . It slows the water flow and increases the amount absorbed by the soil (infiltration). It can withstand water velocity up to 5 metres per second (16 ft/s).[6]
In West African regions, such as Mali and Senegal, vetiver roots were traditionally used to reduce bacteria proliferation in water jugs and jars. In Indonesia, the roots of vetiver are widely used in the production of fragrant mats.[15] In the Philippines and India, the roots are woven to make fragrant-smelling fans called "sandal root fans".[15]
Vetiver can be used for crop protection. It attracts the stem borer (Chilo partellus), which lays its eggs preferentially on vetiver but whose larvae cannot thrive there, as the plant's hairiness prevents their moving onto the leaves, so that they instead fall to the ground and die.[16]
Vetiver extracts can repeltermites.[18][19] However, vetiver grass alone, unlike its extracts, cannot be used to repel termites. Unless the roots are damaged, the anti-termite chemicals, such asnootkatone, are not released.[20]
The leaves of vetiver are a useful byproduct to feedcattle,goats,sheep andhorses. The nutritional content depends onseason, growth stage andsoil fertility.[6] Under most climates, nutritional values andyields are best if vetiver is cut every 1–3months.
Vetiver (khus) is also used as a flavoring agent, usually as khus syrup. Khus syrup is made by adding khus essence to sugar, water and citric acid syrup. Khus essence is a dark green thick syrup made from the roots. It has a woody taste and a scent characteristic of khus.
The syrup is used to flavor milkshakes and yogurt drinks likelassi, but can also be used in ice creams, in mixed beverages such asShirley Temples, and as a dessert topping. Khus syrup does not need to be refrigerated, although khus flavored products may need to be.[21]
Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides=Chrysopogon zizanioides) essential oil in a clear glass vial
Vetiver is mainly cultivated for the fragrant essential oil distilled from its roots. InCuddalore, farmers grow 400 hectares (1,000 acres) of vetiver for oil extraction with help of marudhamalai groups. In perfumery, the older French spelling,vetyver, is often used. Worldwide production is estimated at about 250 tonnes per annum.[22] Vetiver is used widely inperfumes for its excellentfixative properties. It is contained in 90% of Western perfumes. Vetiver is a more common ingredient in fragrances for men; some notable examples include Dior'sEau Sauvage,Guerlain Vétiver, M. Vétiver by Une Nuit à Bali, Zizan byOrmonde Jayne, Vétiver byL'Occitane en Provence, Encre Noire by Lalique or Vetiver Root by Korres.
Indonesia,China, andHaiti are major producers.[23] Vetiver processing was introduced to Haiti in the 1940s by Frenchman Lucien Ganot.[24] In 1958, Franck Léger established a plant on the grounds of his father Demetrius Léger's alcohol distillery. The plant was taken over in 1984 by Franck's son, Pierre Léger, who expanded the size of the plant to 44 atmospheric stills, each built to handle one metric ton of vetiver roots. Total production increased in ten years from 20 to 60 tonnes annually, making it the largest producer in the world.[25] The plant extracts vetiver oil by steam distillation. Another major operation in the field is the one owned by the Boucard family. Réunion is considered to produce the highest quality vetiver oil, called "bourbon vetiver", with the next favorable being Haiti and then Java.[citation needed]
Structure of α-vetivone, the main fragrant component of the oil of vetiver
Structure of khusimol, another fragrant component of the oil of vetiver
Structure of β-vetivone, another fragrant component of the oil of vetiver
The oil is amber brown andviscous. Its odor is described as deep, sweet, woody, smoky, earthy, amber and balsam. The best quality oil is obtained from 18- to 24-month-old roots. The roots are dug up, cleaned, and then dried. Before distillation, the roots are chopped and soaked in water. The distillation process can take up to 24 hours. After the distillate separates into theessential oil andhydrosol, the oil is skimmed off and allowed to age for a few months to allow some undesirable notes formed during distillation to dissipate. Likepatchouli andsandalwood essential oils, vetiver's odor develops and improves with aging. The oil's characteristics can vary significantly depending on where the grass is grown and the climate and soil conditions. The oil distilled in Haiti and Réunion has a more floral quality and is considered of higher quality than the smokier oil from Java. In north India, oil is distilled from wild-growing vetiver. This oil is known askhus orkhas, and in India is considered superior to the oil obtained from the cultivated variety. It is rarely found in commerce outside of India, as most of it is consumed within the country.[27]
Vetiver has been used in traditional medicine in South Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka), Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand), and West Africa.[28]
Old Tamil literature mentions the use of vetiver for medical purposes.
In the Indian Subcontinent,khus (vetiver roots) is often used to replace thestraw orwood shaving pads inevaporative coolers.[7] When cool water runs for months over wood shavings in evaporative cooler padding, they tend to accumulatealgae,bacteria and other microorganisms. This causes the cooler to emit a fishy or seaweed smell. Vetiver root padding counteracts this odor. A cheaper alternative is to add vetiver cooler perfume or even purekhusattar to the tank. Another advantage is that vetiver padding does not catch fire as easily as dry wood shavings.
Mats made by weaving vetiver roots and binding them with ropes or cords are used in India to cool rooms in a house during summer. The mats are typically hung in a doorway and kept moist by spraying with water periodically; they cool the passing air, as well as emitting a fresh aroma.[29]
In the hot summer months in India, sometimes amuslin sachet of vetiver roots is tossed into the earthen pot that keeps a household's drinking water cool. Like abouquet garni, the bundle lends distinctive flavor and aroma to the water.Khus-scented syrups are also sold.[citation needed]
A recent study found the plant is capable of growing in fuel-contaminated soil. In addition, the study discovered the plant is also able to clean the soil, so in the end, the soil is almost fuel-free.[30]
Vetiver grass is used asroof thatch (it lasts longer than other materials) and inmud brick-making for housing construction (such bricks have lower thermal conductivity). It is also made intostrings andropes, and grown as anornamental plant (for the lightpurpleflowers).[6]
Garlands made of vetiver grass are used to adorn themurti ofLord Nataraja (Shiva) in Hindu temples. It is a favourite offering toGanesha.
Vetiver oil has been used in an effort to track where mosquitoes live during dry seasons in Sub-Saharan Africa. Mosquitoes were tagged with strings soaked in vetiver oil then released. Dogs trained to track the scent, not native to Africa, found the marked mosquitoes in such places as holes in trees and in old termitemounds.[31]
Slightly sloping land avoidswaterlogging in case of overwatering. A flat site is acceptable, but watering must be monitored to avoid waterlogging, which stunts the growth of young plants. Mature vetiver, however, thrives under waterlogged conditions.
It is tolerant to temperatures from 15 to 55 °C (59 to 131 °F), depending on growing region. The optimal soil temperature for root growth is 25 °C (77 °F). Rootdormancy occurs under a temperature of 5 °C (41 °F). Shoot growth is affected earlier; at 13 °C (55 °F), shoot growth is minimal, but root growth is continued at a rate of12.6 cm (4+15⁄16 in) per day. Underfrosty conditions, shoots become dormant and purple, or even die, but the underground growing points survive and can regrow quickly if conditions improve.
Vetiver is planted in long, straight rows across the slope for easy mechanicalharvesting. The soil should be wet.Trenches are 15–20 cm (6–8 in) deep.[32] A modifiedseedling planter or mechanical transplanter can plant large numbers of vetiver slips in the nursery. Flowering and nonflowering varieties are used for cultivation. Sandy loam nursery beds ensure easy harvest and minimal damage to plant crowns and roots. Open space is recommended, because shading slows growth.
Overheadirrigation is recommended for the first few months after planting. More mature plants prefer flood irrigation. Weed control may be needed during establishment phase, by usingatrazine after planting.[7]
To controltermites that attack dead material,hexachlorobenzene, also known as benzene hexachloride-BCH, can be applied to the vetiver hedge. Brown spot seems to have no effect on vetiver growth.Black rust in India is vetiver-specific and does not cross-infect other plants. In China, stemborers (Chilo spp.) have been recognised, but they seem to die once they get into the stems.[6] Further, vetiver is affected byDidymella andropogonis on leaves,Didymosphaeria andropogonis on dead culms,Lulworthia medusa on culms andOphiosphaerella herpotricha. Only in Malaysia,whiteflies seem to be a problem. Pest management is done by usinginsecticides and by appropriate cultural management: hedges are cut to 3 cm above ground at the end of the growing season.[7] In general, vetiver is tolerant toherbicides and pesticides.
Harvest of mature plants is performed mechanically or manually. A machine uproots the mature stock 20–25 cm (8–10 in) below ground. To avoid damaging the plant crown, a single-blade mouldboardplough or a disc plough with special adjustment is used.
^abRazal, Ramon; Palijon, Armando (2009).Non-Wood Forest Products of the Philippines. Calamba City, Laguna: El Guapo Printing Press. p. 63.ISBN978-971-579-058-1.
^Dubey, Nidhi; Raghav, C.S.; Gupta, R.L.; Chhonkar, S.S. (2010). "Chemical Composition and Antifungal Activity of Vetiver Oil of North and South India against Rhizoctonia solani".Pesticide Research Journal.22 (1):63–67.
^Karl-Georg Fahlbusch, Franz-Josef Hammerschmidt, Johannes Panten, Wilhelm Pickenhagen, Dietmar Schatkowski, Kurt Bauer, Dorothea Garbe, Horst Surburg "Flavors and Fragrances" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim: 2002. Published online: 15 January 2003;doi:10.1002/14356007.a11_141.
^Narong Chomchalow, "The Utilization of Vetiver as Medicinal and Aromatic Plants with Special Reference to Thailand", Office of the Royal Development Projects Board, Bangkok, ThailandSeptember 2001, Pacific Rim Vetiver Network Technical Bulletin No. 2001/1.[1]Archived 2013-09-18 at theWayback Machine
Veldkamp, J. F. (1999). "A revision ofChrysopogon Trin., includingVetiveria Bory (Poaceae) in Thailand and Malesia with notes on some other species from Africa and Australia".Austrobaileya.5:522–523.
Other Uses and Utilization of Vetiver: Vetiver Oil - U.C. Lavania - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow-336 015, India
E. Guenther,The Essential Oils Vol. 4 (New York: Van Nostrand Company INC, 1990), 178–181, cited in Salvatore Battaglia,The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy (Australia: The Perfect Potion, 1997), 205.]
Caldecott, Todd (2006).Ayurveda: The Divine Science of Life. Elsevier/Mosby.ISBN978-0-7234-3410-8.Archived from the original on 18 April 2011. – contains a detailed monograph onChrysopogon zizanioides (Ushira), as well as a discussion of health benefits and usage in clinical practice.
