Vetiver Slips

A dense, clumping perennial grass, to 1.5 m in height, native in India and Ceylon. 'Monto' is a sterile (non-seed producing) variety specially selected not to become weedy. In its natural environment, vetiver grows on riverbanks up to an altitude of 600m. It requires a hot and humid climate. It is adaptable to a wide range of soil and climatic conditions. It can be established on very acid, sodic, alkaline or saline soils. Vetiver tolerates very high levels of aluminum, manganese and a range of heavy metals in the soil.  Due to its extensive and deep root system, vetiver is very tolerant of drought. It can stand extreme heat (50°C) and frost (-10°C) and can be established in areas with an annual rainfall from 450 mm and higher. Vetiver is sensitive to shade and this will slow growth, especially in young plants.

VETIVER CULTIVATION

Economic part - Roots

Major constituents - Vetiverone, Vetiverols, Vetivernate

Uses - Perfumery, cosmetics

Varieties

There, are basically two main types, viz. (1) Seedling type and (2) Non seedling type

The one that grows wild in North India is mainly the seedling type while that of the South is the non-seedling type. Hybrid 8, sugandha, ODV-3 are the superior strains for cultivation

Climate and Soil

Well drained, sandy loam and red laterite soils of pH 6-8 are considered ideal as the roots produced in such soils are thick and contain more essential oil.

The crop grows luxuriantly with a rainfall of 100-200 cm and a temperature of 30-40oc.

Planting

There are three different systems of planting adopted by different growers.

1) System 1: Conical ridges, 30-38 cm high and 48 cm apart are made at the summit and the slips planted 23 cm apart on the summit.

2) System 2: The land is laid out into beds of 30 cm high, 68 cm wide and 45 cms apart edge to edge and the slips are planted on these in two rows 22.5 cm apart, leaving 22.5 cm on either sides.

3) System 3: The beds are made 45 cm high, 60 cm wide and 30 cm apart edge to edge and two rows, 30 cm apart, are planted on these leaving 15 cm on either side. The spacing within the row is also 30 cm in this system.  

Propagation

Vetiver can be propagated through slips. The top of the slips are cut down before planting to prune transpiration loss, thus giving a better chance for survival of the slips.

The slips are planted in pits, five to eight cm deep made with a pointed stick. One hectare requires 1,50,000 to 2,25,000 slips with 2 - 3 slips per pit in the commonly adopted system of planting (IInd method).

The best planting time to get higher oil yield under South Indian condition is June-July.  

Crop stand

Manures and Fertilizers:

Application of FYM at 10 ton/ha and 60 kg of N, 22.5 kg in each of P2O5 and K2O was found to be efficient in increasing the yield of vetiver.

Intercropping

During the initial crop growth (70-90 days) crops like cowpea, black gram, green gram, cluster bean, pigeon pea, senna and sacred basil can be grown.

Plant protection

No serious insect pests attack this crop.  In dry areas termites and white ants attack the roots.

Leaf blight caused by Curvularia trifolii and Fusarium diseases is controlled by repeated spraying and drenching with copper oxychloride or 15 Bordeaux mixture.

Scale insects are kept under check by application of metasystox (0.4%) or chlorpyriphos at 2.5 l/ha.

Harvesting

The plants planted in July should be harvested after 18 months to get the maximum oil yield. Harvesting is usually done during dry season (December to February) by manually digging out the bush along with its roots. The roots are then separated from the leaves, washed and dried under the shade for 1-2 days before distillation.

The roots that possess the following characteristics have good oil content. It should

1. Be slightly reddish brown

2. expose a hard surface when the skin is peeled off

3. be thick, hard, long and wiry and

4. give a very bitter taste when chewed.

Yield

On an average one hectare of vetiver plantation yields 3-4 ­­ tones of roots which on distillation yield 15 to 16 kg of oil. Roots yield 1.00 to 1.50 per cent of oil on dry weight basis. 

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Material Available

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• oil

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Persons interested in farming with buy back agreement will be entertained only on prior appointment basis.+91-9799931200