Vetiver Grass – Leachate Management Specialists

Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) is a very unique perennial bunch grass that has shown a remarkable ability to solve complex environmental problems due to extraordinary characteristics, some of which are listed below:

Ability to uptake large volumes of water
Highly efficient in absorbing nutrients (i.e. N and P) and metals
Highly tolerant to:
- Extreme climate and environmental conditions (i.e. drought, flood, fire, temperature)
- Saline, sodic, and acidic soil (pH: 3.5–12)
- Disease and pests
- Heavy metals and VOCs

Vetiver has been very effective in numerous bioengineering applications, including:

Treatment and disposal of polluted water
Remediation of contaminated soils
Prevention and control of landfill seeps
Slope stabilization
Erosion control
Disaster mitigation (i.e. flood zones, landslides)
Hydroponic treatment of surface water
Groundwater protection
Establishment of turf in difficult areas
Pest control
Protection of crops and rehabilitation of farmland
Bio-fuel
Natural material for handicrafts, thatch, mulch, etc.
Aromatherapy and perfume oil

Vetiver typically has aboveground growth between 5 and 7 feet tall. It has been called a “generational plant” because of its longevity. In fact, it has been used for centuries in India to legally demark property boundaries.

The plant has been classified by the USDA as a non-invasive, sterile cultivar so there are NO worries of the plant spreading beyond where it is planted.

Vetiver has been used with great success in the solid waste industry to utilize leachate on-site in lieu of off-site disposal with millions and millions of gallons of leachate having already been processed. The plant has been in the United States for well over 100 years and has many advantages over other grasses including an efficient C4-based photosynthetic pathway and leaf structure that provide for faster growth, high water consumption, and demand for nutrient (contaminants in wastewater).