But apart from those who take soil erosion seriously — farmers and environmentalists — not a lot of people are aware of its value.
Promoting and propagating this wonder grass also seemed confined among government agencies.
The vetiver grass that Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research, Extension and Education planted at Paupau Beach two years ago was uprooted and burned. Whoever did it apparently lacked knowledge about vetiver grass.
According to Natural Resource Conservation Service district conservationist James T. Eller, although there are people who do not believe in vetiver grass, NRCS uses it extensively.
Since it is proven to be an effective means of controlling soil erosion, vetiver grass should be planted by farmers whose plots are on slopes, agriculturist Isidoro T. Cabrera said.
Because it also serves as a vegetative barrier to protect the coral ecosystem from sedimentation, vetiver grass is now being used extensively to protect the near-shore marine environment from runoffs.
Soil erosion is one of the potential threats to the marine environment.
Construction firms may also want to consider using vetiver grass to mitigate the impact of construction activities, particularly road projects, on the soil.
According to the Division of Environmental Quality, many erosion problems on island are attributed to road construction projects.
The book titled “Vetiver Grass,” published by the National Academy Press, states that globally, erosion “is continually increasing.”
More hill slopes are being cultivated in response to increasing population and other social and economic pressures.
“This is irreversibly devastating both the slopes and the lands and the waters below,” the book stated.
According to the book, vetiver grass:
• Reduces erosion when in a hedge just one plant wide.
• Is not invasive as certain types appear to be infertile seed and produce no spreading stolons or rhizomes so they remain where they are.
• Is able to survive drought, flood, winds storm, fire, grazing animals, and other forces of nature, except freezing.
• Is cheap and usually easy to put up and the hedges are easy to maintain.
• Is not difficult to remove if no longer wanted.
• Is largely free of insects and diseases and does not appear to be a host for any serious pests of pathogens that attack crops.
• Can survive on may soil types, almost regardless of fertility acidity, alkanity, or salinity.
• Is capable of growing in a wide range or climates.
NMC-CREES runs a six-hectare experimental farm in As Perdido where vetiver grass is made available to farmers who want to use it as erosion control measure.
Fourteen farmers, including Cabrera, were recently awarded $300,000 in Environmental Quality Incentive Program funds for their control erosion practices. Cabrera said these will definitely involve the use of vetiver grass.
