Document Tag: agriculture

VETIVER HEDGEROWS FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL IN FIELD CROPS AND ORCHARDS

VETIVER HEDGEROWS FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL IN FIELD CROPS AND ORCHARDS Prepared by Richard Grimshaw (The Vetiver Network International) Contents PREAMBLE………………………………………………………………………………………………….6 PREFACE ……………………………………………………………………………………………………7 CAUTIONARY NOTE ………………………………………………………………………………………8 HOW TO USE THIS MODULE……………………………………………………………………………8 CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………….9 1.1 Background…………………………………………………………………………………………9 1.2 Purpose of the Module …………………………………………………………………………10 1.3 Scope ………………………………………………………………………………………………11 CHAPTER 2 – BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS ……………………………………………………….11 2.1 Why Vetiver Supports Parasitoid Wasps……………………………………………………11 2.2 Vetiver as a Dead-End Trap Crop …………………………………………………………….13 2.3 Vetiver Does Not Host Major Crop Pests …………………………………………………..13 2.4 Parasitoid Guilds (communites) Supported by Vetiver …………………………………14 CHAPTER 3 – HEDGE PLACEMENT AND SPACING ………………………………………………14 3.1 Principles of Hedge Placement ………………………………………………………………14 3.2 Standard Spacing (50–80 m or less)…………………………………………………………15 3.3 Close Spacing (10–20 m)………………………………………………………………………15 3.4 Orchard Perimeter Systems…………………………………………………………………..16… Read the rest “VETIVER HEDGEROWS FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL IN FIELD CROPS AND ORCHARDS”
Dick Grimshaw
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Vetiver as Vetiver Forage: What the Evidence Really Shows, a Drought Resilient Feed

Across the tropics, livestock producers face a recurring challenge: how to maintain animals through long dry seasons, drought cycles, and periods when conventional fodder collapses. Vetiver grass, long celebrated for its engineering and environmental benefits, is increasingly recognized as a strategic forage reserve—not because it outperforms improved fodder species, but because it survives when everything else fails. Nutritionally, vetiver is a moderate‑quality tropical roughage. Crude protein typically ranges from 6–10%, with digestibility values comparable to hardy, low‑input grasses used in drylands.… Read the rest “Vetiver as Vetiver Forage: What the Evidence Really Shows, a Drought Resilient Feed”
Dick Grimshaw
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Vetiver as a Dead-End Trap Crop for Rice, Maize & Sorghum Stemborers and some other Crop Pests

Contents Preamble: …………………………………………………………………………………………………..3 1. Biological Basis ………………………………………………………………………………………..4 1.1 India: Yellow Stem Borer (YSB) …………………………………………………………………4 1.2 China: Attraction Radius ………………………………………………………………………..4 1.3 Africa: Maize & Sorghum Stemborers ………………………………………………………..5 2. Design Principles ………………………………………………………………………………………5 3. Rice Systems……………………………………………………………………………………………6 3.1 – Minimum Hedge Requirement ……………………………………………………………….6 3.2 Plant Numbers …………………………………………………………………………………….6 3.1 Perimeter Hedgerow (Primary Requirement) ……………………………………………….6 3.2 Internal Hedgerows……………………………………………………………………………….6 4. Spacing …………………………………………………………………………………………………..7 4.1 Pest-Management Spacing……………………………………………………………………..7 4.2 Bund-Stability Spacing…………………………………………………………………………..7 4.3 Dual-Purpose Hedges ……………………………………………………………………………7 5. Management ……………………………………………………………………………………………7 5.1 Critical Trim: Pre-Flight Trim…………………………………………………………………….7 5.2 Optional Trim: Post-Harvest Trim ……………………………………………………………..7… Read the rest “Vetiver as a Dead-End Trap Crop for Rice, Maize & Sorghum Stemborers and some other Crop Pests”
Dick Grimshaw
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Vetiver Grass – The Microbial Engine that drives the Vetiver Grass Technology – Transforming Vetiver Plant Establishment, Perennial Cropping Systems, and Soil Restoration

Contents Preamble …………………………………………………………………………………………………..3 Why Microbes Matter for Vetiver…………………………………………………………………5 How Microbial Additives Actually Work………………………………………………………..6 A Practical DIY Microbial Mix ……………………………………………………………………..6 What Farmers and Practitioners Observe……………………………………………………..7 ANNEX 1. Microbially-enhanced establishment of vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides)………………………………………………………………………………………………..8 1. Purpose and Scope ……………………………………………………………………………….8 2. Scientific Basis and Mechanisms of Action ……………………………………………….8 3. Expected Outcomes………………………………………………………………………………9 4. Approved Microbial Additive Categories …………………………………………………….10 5. Standard Field Application Protocol……………………………………………………….10 6. Approved Low-Cost DIY Microbial Inoculant ……………………………………………11 7. Quality Assurance and Field Verification …………………………………………………12 8. Safety and Environmental Considerations ………………………………………………12 9.… Read the rest “Vetiver Grass – The Microbial Engine that drives the Vetiver Grass Technology – Transforming Vetiver Plant Establishment, Perennial Cropping Systems, and Soil Restoration”
Dick Grimshaw
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Vetiver Grass Technology (VGT) for Nematode Suppression and Soil Biological Recovery in Open Fields and Agroforestry Systems

Most farmers and planners think of vetiver hedges as a tool for soil and water conservation, but the same plant can be deployed as a biological engine for nematode suppression and soil recovery—in both open fields and food-forest systems. In food forests in India and Kenya, vetiver was used as the initial layer, with crops like black turmeric, ginger, pink pepper, and lemons planted into the improved soil matrix. Yields were high, drainage improved dramatically, and nematode-sensitive crops performed exceptionally well.… Read the rest “Vetiver Grass Technology (VGT) for Nematode Suppression and Soil Biological Recovery in Open Fields and Agroforestry Systems”
Dick Grimshaw
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VETIVER AS FORAGE AND ITS MANAGEMENT

Vetiver’s feed value sits in an unusual but important niche: it is not a high-performance forage like Kikuyu or Napier, yet when managed correctly it provides reliable, moderate-quality feed with surprising nutritional strength in its young stages. Across multiple datasets—including the Texas laboratory sample and the three-stage vetiver analysis (Australia)—young vetiver consistently delivers TDN around 55–60% and crude protein between 12–15%, placing it on par with many tropical grasses. As the plant matures, quality declines mainly because of rising fiber (NDF 75–80%), which limits intake rather than digestibility.… Read the rest “VETIVER AS FORAGE AND ITS MANAGEMENT”
Dick Grimshaw
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Vetiver System Research and Development in China in Recent Decade

Abstract Chrysopogon zizanioides is a perennial herb that is native to India and is now widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. In recent ten years, with the increasingly severe global environmental problems, vetiver as a multi-functional plant has received extensive attention. Its developed root system, rapid growth ability and strong adaptability to harsh environments have shown great application potential in soil and water conservation, biological engineering, environmental protection and agricultural pest control. This paper aims to review the research progress of vetiver in the past ten years, discuss its application effect under different environmental conditions, and look forward to the future research direction.… Read the rest “Vetiver System Research and Development in China in Recent Decade”
Dick Grimshaw
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Farmers’ awareness of the potential of vetiver grass for soil erosion control in Ogbomoso Agricultural Zone farm lands, south‑western Nigeria

Paper By E. A. Ewetola1*, G. E. Fanifosi2 , A. A. Ezekiel2, A. A. Adetona1, F. M. Oyewole1, N. M. Onatoye1, I. T. Idowu1 and A. K. Akinniku1 Stakeholders are enjoined to increase the awareness of the vetiver grass for increased adoption and utilization, as many farmers were ignorant of the vetiver grass technology for erosion control in the study area.
Dick Grimshaw
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Vetiver System and its research and applications in China

This this book by the China Vetiver Network, edited by Liyu Xu, was published in 2003, has been issued as a second edition and contains useful data and information of vetiver research and applications at that time.
Dick Grimshaw
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