Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides)

Botanical Name: Vetiveria zizanioides
Family: Gramineae
Plant Part Used: Roots (Contain Vetiver oil)

Uses of Vetiver

• Vetiver oil is a natural perfume.
• Used in expensive soaps, perfumes, attars, and skincare products.
• Used in tobacco, pan masala, and cold beverage industries.
• Roots used in cupboards to repel insects.
• Medicinal uses: cooling, bitter, stomachic, immune booster, headache relief, ulcers, and blood disease treatment.
• Used for soil and water erosion control.
• Dry roots used for making mats, mattresses, fans, screens, pillows, baskets, and bags.
• Leaves used as fodder, bedding for livestock, substrate for mushroom cultivation, composting, and mulching.

Soil Requirement

• Withstands prolonged dry spells and water stagnation.
• Prefers loose, well-drained sandy loam.
• pH range: 6.0-8.0.
• Compact heavy soil restricts root growth and makes harvesting difficult.

Climate Requirement

• Requires long-day conditions with plenty of sunlight.
• Thrives in warm and humid areas.
• Cultivated in regions with 60-400 cm annual rainfall.
• Grown in South India and Rajasthan (Bharatpur area).
• Does not perform well under shaded conditions.

Improved Varieties

Seeding Type (North India, Superior Oil Aroma):

• Akhila, Bharatpur, Musanagar, Dharini, Gulabi, Khesai.

Non-Seeding Type (South India, Higher Root and Oil Yield):

• Nilambur, ODV-3, Hybrid-7, Hybrid-8, CIMAP/KS-2, Sugantha, KH-8, KH-40.

Propagation Method

• Preferred method: Slips (tillers take longer).
• Slips are collected from the previous crop with intact rhizomes and 15-20 cm aerial portions.
• Seed propagation is limited to breeding due to heterozygous nature and 3-month dormancy.

Planting Time

• Onset of monsoon or mid-rainy season (June – July).

Spacing

• Transplanted on ridges and furrows.
• 2-3 slips per hill.
• Spacing:
  • 22.5 cm x 22.5 cm (2-2.5 lakh plants/ha).
  • 60 cm x 25 cm (60,000 plants/ha).

Cultural Practices

• Weeding: Required for the first 2-3 months.
• Earthing Up: Done up to 4 months after planting.
• Manuring:
  • FYM: 10 t/ha.
  • Recommended Dose: 80:50:50 kg NPK/ha per year (Basal dose + N in 4 split doses).

Irrigation

• Frequent irrigation is necessary.
• Irrigation intervals:
  • Every 15 days in winter.
  • Every 10 days in summer.

Harvesting

• Harvesting Time: 16-18 months after planting.
• Maturity Indices:
  1. Roots expose a hard surface when peeled.
  2. Thick, hard, long, and wiry roots.
  3. Bitter taste when chewed.
• Harvesting during dry periods yields higher oil content.
• Harvesting Method:

• • Above-ground parts cut 15-20 cm above the ground.
  • Clumps uprooted using digging forks or disc ploughs.
  • Soil dug up to 30-40 cm depth to extract 50% roots.
  • Clumps shade-dried for 7-10 days to reduce moisture.
  • Roots are separated, cleaned in running water, and sent for distillation.

Yield

• Fresh root yield: 5-6 tonnes/ha.
• Oil yield: 15-20 kg/ha.
• Oil Content: 1.0-1.5% on dry weight basis.
• Major Oil Constituent: Vetiverol (65-75%).