Application of the Vetiver System in the Reclamation of Degraded Land

摘要

Land degradation is becoming one of the severest environmental issues in the world, especially in developing nations. Land degradation, usually accompanied by soil erosion, always results in a decrease or complete loss of land productivity, and produces on-site and off-site pollution to soil and water. The methods for land reclamation are various, including physical, chemical and biological. The cost for reclamation of degraded land using old methods is huge, but far cheaper, using new biological methods. Vegetation or revegetation is a chief biological measure, but the key is choosing the right species. Trees, shrubs, creepers , and herbs can be used to reclaim degraded land, but the best species are grasses due to their strong resistance to adverse conditions, and fast-growing feature. Among them, vetiver ( Vetiveria zizanioides) is the most typical representative. As a species of land reclamation, vetiver has various kinds of miraculous characteristics and functions, such as rapid growth, huge biomass, massive and long roots, strong abilities to control erosion and stabilize slopes, and huge capacities of phytoremediation. Applications around the globe as well as in China indicate that vetiver is really a miracle species for land reclamation, including reclamation to barren mountains or hills, contaminated water and soil, mined lands, quarries, etc. It exhibits a very wonderful future in South China for land reclamation.