Please inform me more details about the khus cultivation, we have 23 acres of land with water facility(10months).If the land is of sandy loamy soil, cultivation of Vetiver ( khus) will fetch good returns in 12 months without much nourishment and maintainance.
Sudhir Pai
I am also intrested for Khus plantation. can u give me the address of seed supplier. i am belongs from maharashtra-karad.Thank you for your detailed facts about the khus will you pl advice where can we get the seeds i m located in gujrat
thanks
dipak b vyas
Please contact..
Thanks for your Valuable suggestion about Vetiver, in the same manner i had planted 70 acre black Tulsi (Ocimum Santum), i also have distillation plant to convert in to the tulsi oil. please advice how to get market of Tulsi oil .VETIVER (KHUS)
(Vetiveria zizanioides)
Introduction
Vetiver is considered to be a rapidly growing variety of grass. It grows vertically tall and in thick clumps. It has a long fibrous root system, which is knitted strongly together like a net in the soil.
Vetiver grows well in wastelands-sandy, marginal land where conventional cropping is uneconomic. Vetiver is extremely hardy and can tolerate submergence for a considerable period as well as withstand drought situation.
Cultivation of vetiver for 3-4 cycles improves sandy soils to a greater extent and makes them suitable for growing common agricultural crops more profitably.
Vetiver oil is obtained by steam distillation of roots of vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides). The oil is one of the finest oriental perfumes with a persistent fragrance. The oil is used in the manufacture of soaps, cosmetics, perfumery, agarbathis, soft drinks; pan masala etc. In blended perfumes, oil of vetiver acts as an excellent fixatives for volatile compounds. It is known for its cooling properties.
[FONT="]However, it is necessary to take proper care of the planted vetiver in order to successfully achieve the above-mentioned benefits. [/FONT]
The oil and its Uses
The oil is used extensively in perfume industry and in the manufacture of scented toiletries as fixative and also as odour contributor in base etc. It also has uses in the food industry as flavour agent. The essential oil is reddish dark brown when matured and has a woody, earthy smell that is almost musty. The oil has a strong odour (that may not be to everyone’s taste) and should be well diluted to avoid it being too overpowering in a blend.
Vetiver oil is used as part of the woody notes for luxury perfumes. The oil of vetiver, patchouli and sandalwood in combination with jasmine and gardenia complex, is the base of the famous Crepe de Chine note. In addition to its importance in classical perfumery, vetiver oil is also used as base for many modern men’s colognes.
Medicinal uses
Therapeutically, vetiver oil has a profoundly relaxing effect on the nervous system, relieving tension and stress. It can be used to good effect in the treatment of insomnia. In India, vetiver oil is known as the oil of tranquility. In baths or in massage, vetiver is beneficial in the treatment of the symptoms of disorders such as arthritis, rheumatism and a chin, stiff muscles. It is warming and comforting and will help to relieve the tension that is often associated with chronic pain.
Vetiver oil also benefits the circulatory system, stimulating and warming, especially when used in combination with massage. In skin care, the antiseptic and slightly astringent properties of vetiver can be used to good effect in the treatment of oily skin that is prone to spots.
Demand and Supply of vetiver oil
In India as well as the World Market, the demand for vetiver oil is increasing day by day due to its unique odour, for which it is used in both flavour and fragrance industries. One more reason for increase in demand is that this oil cannot be substituted with reconstituted oil and cannot be made synthetically. It is used for Base-note in flavour and fragrance and the percent usage varies from 20-50% to 60-70 %. That means it has enough market potential and there is no doubt on its consumption.
Quantity wise the Indian vetiver oil, considered to be the best in the world market. The Indian consumption at present is about 100 tons and more than 80 % is met by import.
Vetiver
Soil and Climate
Vetiver grows in any type of soil but a rich and fairly well drained loam is considered best. The loamy soils, which are loose in texture, are ideal for root growth and harvesting as well.
Vetiver plant also grows on a variety of problematic soils like waterlogged soils, sandy soils and areas with high water table and flood prone. A luxuriant growth of healthier root is obtained from plants growing under warm and damp conditions on rich, temporary inundated, marshy land.
The Char lands of The Brahmaputra and its main tributaries and newly silted land that turned otherwise unfit for most common agricultural crops may be identified as potential areas for vetiver cultivation. It grows best in areas with warm summer and well-distributed rainfall.
Planting time
With pre-monsoon shower April- August is considered most ideal time for commercial cultivation. In flood affected areas the crop should be established before floodwater submerges it. Therefore, it should be planted before 2 months ahead of normal flood.
Planting
After division into slips the fibrous roots are also removed leaving 5-8 cm from the base of the root. These are planted in lines at 45 x 30 cm spacing. One-hectare area requires about 75,000 slips when planted at 45 x 30 cm spacing.
If planting is done during rain free period, field should be irrigated immediately after planting.
Harvesting
Harvesting is done in between 12-18 months to get fully developed root system and high quality of oil. Harvesting earlier than 12 months after planting, the immature roots yield oil of poor quality with green earthy odour.
For harvesting, the moist areas are taken up first. The water logged areas become dry enough in February for digging up the roots. After February due to rising temperature, the soil become harder and makes digging very difficult. At this stage the finer roots stay in the ground, which contain more oil resulting low yield per unit area.
Yield of roots
The age, the soil, climatic conditions and also the strain are important factors governing the yield of roots. On an average, 15-20 q/acre of dry root is obtained under good management.
Returns
By the end of 12 months the net income per acre will be about Rs.1, 00,000 - 1,20,000 if only roots are sold.
If oil is distiiled and sold, the net income will be 50% more.
What makes Vetiver so popular?
[FONT="]· [/FONT]It's perennial and requires minimal maintenance.
· It's both xerophyte and hydrophyte. Once established, it can withstand drought, flood and long periods of water logging.
· It will grow in all types of soil regardless of fertility, pH or salinity. It is highly tolerant to toxic levels of aluminum, manganese, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel, copper, mercury, lead, selenium and zinc.
· It will grow in a wide range of climates. Survives in areas with average annual rainfall between 200 and 6000 millimeters and with temperatures ranging from 1 to 45 degree C.
· It is a climax plant and therefore even when all surrounding plants are destroyed by drought, flood, pests, diseases, fire or other adversity, vetiver will remain to protect the ground from the onslaught of the next rains.
· It has a strong fibrous root system that penetrates and binds the soil to a depth of three meters and can withstand the effects of tunneling and cracking.
· The vetiver system is low cost and extremely effective system for soil and water conservation, infrastructure stabilization, pollution control, wastewater treatment, mitigation and prevention of storm damage and many other applications. Vetiver grass, vetiveria zizanioides, is central to all vetiver system based bioengineering and conservation applications. It can be used in the tropics and semi tropics, and areas outside the latter (such as Italy and California that have a Mediterranean climate) where there are hot summers, and winters that do not include permanently frozen soil conditions. The roots of the grass have an average tensile strength of Mpa 75 (one-sixth the strength of Mild Steel), and improve the shear strength of soil by between 30 and 40%. Engineers liken them to a "living soil nail".
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I am also intrested for Khus plantation. can u give me the address of seed supplier. i am belongs from maharashtra-karad.
thanks
Chavan Govind,
Please contact..
what is the seed rate of khus cultivation for one acre and where to sell the khus after cultivation near delhi or other place. and what is the process of distillation and cost of distillation unit. please intimate.
We have Vetiver(Khus) Tillers or slips for planting. We can organise delivery anywhere.
Sudhir Pai