The Vetiver Network International

Slope Stabilization

Introductory photo essay PowerPoint Presentation (vetiver.org)

Figure 1 Vetiver reduces the chances of slope slippage on shallow soils of less than 2 meters

 

Photo 1 Vetiver not only stabilizes this highway fill, but also reduces sediment flows to the drainage in the valley. New road construction is a major point source for damaging erosion

Unprotected natural or constructed earthen slopes are often major point source erosion locations resulting in large sediment flows to lower catchment sites, contaminating rivers and streams, reducing water quality, slope failures, slippage and landslides, economic damage to property, and loss of life. The Vetiver System can effectively and at low cost mitigate most of these problems. This is because vetiver grass roots have a high tensile strength – average 75 MPa that can increase shear strength of soil by a factor of 40, and when planted on slopes vetiver will reduce slope hydraulic pore pressures through the removal (transpiration) of water. The combination of slippage prevention (mass wastage of soil) and its sediment filtering ability in cleaner water moving down the catchment.

The handbook: The Vetiver System for Slope Stabilization describes in detail VS applications. It has been written primarily for engineers and contains case studies and many color images of VS applications. The book can be downloaded or can be purchased as hard copy from Amazon.com

GEOTROPISM IN VETIVER

(2013)

photo essay of vetiver grass applied to various slope stabilization applications by Paul Truong, TVNI Technical Director.

THIS IS THE BEST COLLECTION OF VS SLOPE STABILIZATION EVER PUBLISHED AND EXPLAINS WHY VETIVER IS SO EFFECTIVE

How to plant vetiver on a steep slope in California

A useful video with Q&A showing vetiver being correctly planted on a very steep slope in California.
Vetiver System for Erosion and Sediment Control, and Stabilisation of Steep Slopes Power Point by Paul Truong (pdf MB 2.6) With special reference to Vietnam
Application of Vetiver Grass Technology in the Stabilisation of Road Infrastructure in the Wet Tropical Region of Australia Power Point by Paul Truong
The Vetiver System for Infrastructure Stabilization in Africa This is a modified power point showing how VS has been used for slope stabilization in Madagascar. It also shows how local communities have benefited from the production of vetiver plant material. The author, Roley Noffke, is a highly skilled and experienced road engineer and has worked widely with various Vetiver System applications. He can be contacted by email.

TVNI’s document center contains many papers and references to VS for slope stabilization.