A Preliminary Experiment on Slope Rehabilitation with Vetiver and Native Plants in South China

Abstract: Vetiver has been used very successfully in erosion control in many countries. It is therefore an excellent plant for slope works. In addition, it is much cheaper using vetiver grass than alternative measures. The cost of embankment stabilization with conventional engineering methods can be reduced by 90 % when vetiver is used as an alternate. But Vetiver grass has a weakness that is brown off in winter; as a result the landscape effect is not effective. So some Highway Administrative Departments have not accepted Vetiver grass. In order to solve this problem, a mixed planting technique combining Vetiver and native plants was conducted in Baiyun District, Guangzhou. Eight native species were selected mainly for their suitability to grow on exposed sites and in poor soil conditions. Based on the survival and growth rate of the seedlings, the trial indicated that the Vetiver and Native Plants Technique (VNPT) is a simple, practical, low maintenance and very effective method for slope works